Towards a framework for evaluating Efficiency-Fairness Tradeoffs on the Internet in Development Context

Efficiency and fairness are main objectives in any system design and many choices in life are made based on their tradeoffs. This paper investigates the current trends in understanding and applying the fairness concept on the Internet. Then it studies and examines the extension of the fairness concept in the context of development and developing regions, where both the traditional lack of infrastructure and costly communication services have also affected the penetration of the Internet and more even distribution of its benefits. The key question is whether or not it is plausible to identify a framework for the evaluation of efficiency-fairness tradeoffs that may provide a sound basis for a model of a more equitable access to the Internet to a diversity of users with different needs and financial possibilities representing mainly developing regions and emerging economies.