Information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and economic growth: A causality evinced by cross-country panel data

Abstract

This study examines certain long-run relationships hypothesised to be present among per capita real GDP, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, consumer price index, labour force participation rate, and gross fixed capital formation manifest in G-20 countries recorded for the 2001–2012 period. Using panel cointegration, the study finds that the variables are cointegrated and do not drift apart in the long run. Methodology using vector error correction models (VECM) further confirms that embellishment of ICT infrastructure – an apparent imperative in an economy's information technology (IT) policy formulation – for both fixed broadband and internet users causes a boost in the per capita GDP. Keywords: ICT infrastructure, Per capita economic growth, Panel cointegration, G-20 countries