The goals of information policy are remarkably similar throughout the world. The mechanisms chosen to achieve these goals, however, differ widely. In the West, the mechanisms are determined by the prevailing free-market economic and political philosophy. They depend on the profit motive, competition and deregulation. In East Asia, a different policy agenda is emerging - the emphasis is on partnership between the State and the private sector, with the State taking the lead in the formulation of policy and in financing investment in the infrastructure. Competition is managed and regulated.
These two approaches accommodate different economic, social and political conditions. The evidence seems to suggest that the policy-driven agenda of East Asia is likely to be more successful than the market-driven approach of the West.
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