This study contributes to the literature by analyzing the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on economic performance and energy consumption of selected South Asian economies i.e. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the period of 1990–2018. For empirical analysis, we employed the bounds testing approach of cointegration and error correction modelling. The findings of the study confirm that, in the long-run, ICT significantly and positively contributed to the economic growth of India only. Similarly, India is the only country in South Asia that has achieved energy efficiency as a result of increased use of ICT. However, energy consumption proved to be an important determinant of GDP per capita in India and Pakistan. Also, GDP per capita has a positive and significant impact on energy consumption in both India and Pakistan. These results imply that South Asian economies try to follow their regional partner, India, in increasing the role of ICT in their economies, which on one side will boost their economic growth and on the other side will help them in achieving energy efficiency. Moreover, the energy conservation policy could prove detrimental to South Asian economies.

本研究通过分析信息通信技术（ICT）对某些南亚经济体，即孟加拉国，印度，巴基斯坦和斯里兰卡在1990-2018年期间的经济绩效和能源消耗的影响，为文献做出了贡献。为了进行实证分析，我们采用了协整和误差校正建模的边界测试方法。该研究的结果证实，从长远来看，ICT仅对印度的经济增长做出了积极而积极的贡献。同样，印度是南亚唯一由于增加使用ICT而实现能源效率的国家。但是，能源消耗被证明是印度和巴基斯坦人均GDP的重要决定因素。也，人均国内生产总值对印度和巴基斯坦的能源消耗产生积极而重大的影响。这些结果表明，南亚经济体试图跟随其区域合作伙伴印度来提高ICT在其经济中的作用，这一方面将促进其经济增长，另一方面将帮助它们实现能源效率。此外，节能政策可能会损害南亚经济。