Title: Blockchain and bitcoin as a way to lift a country out of poverty - tourism 2.0 and e-governance in the Republic of Moldova

Authors: Marc Pilkington; Rodica Crudu; Lee Gibson Grant

Addresses: Laboratoire d'Économie de Dijon, EA, COMUE Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 2 boulevard Gabriel BP 26611, 21066 DIJON cedex, France; Moldova Blockchain Centre, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM), Strada Bănulescu-Bodoni 61, Chisinău MD-2005, Republic of Moldova ' Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM), 61 Banulescu-Bodoni str., MD-2005 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova ' Moldova Blockchain Centre, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM), 61 Banulescu-Bodoni str., MD-2005 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Abstract: In this article, we explore the formidable yet untapped capabilities of Blockchain technology and Bitcoin in order to alleviate poverty. We focus on the Republic of Moldova, which has been plagued by endemic corruption and persistently high poverty levels since her independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The transformative power of Blockchain technology and Bitcoin are then evidenced through a dual analysis of tourism 2.0 (with a real-world case study) and e-governance, which can contribute to increased inward capital investment flows, and help fight off corruption practices. Finally, we conclude that these new technologies constitute a significant step in the right direction, in order to break away from twenty-five years of disappointing socio-economic development performance.

Keywords: blockchain technology; tourism 2.0; e-governance; corruption; Republic of Moldova; Bitcoin; poverty alleviation strategy; use case; Moldova Tours 2.0; post-soviet economies; development; transparency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITST.2017.087132

International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions, 2017 Vol.7 No.2, pp.115 - 143

Received: 30 Sep 2016
Accepted: 07 Feb 2017

Published online: 06 Oct 2017 *

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