Digital identification, or “digital ID,” can be authenticated unambiguously through a digital channel, unlocking access to banking, government benefits, education, and many other critical services. The risks and potential for misuse of digital ID are real and deserve careful attention. When well-designed, digital ID not only enables civic and social empowerment, but also makes possible real and inclusive economic gains—a less well understood aspect of the technology. In this research, we develop a framework to understand the potential economic impact of digital ID, informed by an analysis of nearly 100 ways in which digital ID can be used in Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

As ads during this year's Super Bowl featuring Harrison Ford, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jeff Bridges show, brands can still get a great deal of impact with a high-profile campaign featuring the right celebrity spokesperson. But what is changing is how brands are hiring and activating celebrity endorsers, especially as digital and social channels provide fans more access to celebrities they're eager to get content from, even in the form of an ad.