Macroeconomic Consequences of the One Laptop per Child Project

Because some developing countries have adopted the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project at the national level and others are planning to do so, the macroimplications of this idea can no longer be ignored. Accordingly, I examine whether or not full adoption of OLPC computers in primary schools imbalances the national education budget. Using a simple formula, I address this question in relation to Peru, Uruguay, Rwanda and several other countries. The results suggest tentatively that the OLPC proposal tends to be untenable in poor developing countries, tenable or untenable in middle‐income countries and redundant in most rich countries. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.