ABSTRACT

This paper contributes to the ICT-growth and trade-growth literature by investigating the ICT-trade nexus on economic and inclusive growth. That is, does ICT adoption enhance or distort the impact of trade on growth? With data on 53 African countries from 2005 to 2015 using mobile phones and fixed telephone subscriptions as indicators of ICT, findings provide evidence that (1) trade is a significant and positive predictor of growth, (2) the impact of trade on growth differs significantly across Africa’s sub-regions, (3) the effect of ICT adoption differs significantly across sub-regions, (4) ICT innovation enhances the impact of trade on growth, and (5) the ICT-trade nexus differ significantly across sub-regions. The study submits that these variables are critical drivers of economic and inclusive growth in Africa. However, the lack of consistency of the results across the sub-regions suggests that the level of ICT is still undeveloped. Policy implications are discussed.

摘要

本文通过调查有关经济和包容性增长的ICT贸易关系，为ICT增长和贸易增长文献做出了贡献。也就是说，采用ICT会增强还是扭曲贸易对增长的影响？使用手机和固定电话订户作为ICT指标的2005年至2015年非洲53个国家/地区的数据，研究结果提供了证据：（1）贸易是增长的重要且积极的预测指标，（2）贸易对增长的影响差异很大在非洲各次区域中，（3）在各次区域中，采用ICT的效果存在显着差异；（4）ICT创新增强了贸易对增长的影响；（5）在各次区域中，ICT贸易关系显着不同。该研究认为，这些变量是非洲经济和包容性增长的关键驱动力。然而，各次区域的结果缺乏一致性，这说明信息通信技术水平尚不发达。讨论了政策含义。