Local content production and the political economy of the mobile app industries in Argentina and Bolivia

Abstract

Mobile broadband is playing an increasingly important role in the developing world. However, mobile platform providers and app publishers are dominated by multinational companies headquartered in the West. Where international agendas commit to promote local content production and a culturally diverse information society, there is minimal research on the orientation of commercial app production in developing regions. This article examines the targets and activities of mobile app developers in two Latin American economies -Argentina and Bolivia- analysing the political, social and economic conditions that connect or disconnect app developers and the interests of local users. Findings suggest that app distribution platforms do not favour local markets and that app developers largely focus on custom-design projects for commercial firms.