The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries

Abstract Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have made remarkable progress in recent years, impacting nearly every field of society. In parallel, the effects of ICT progress on achieving sustainable development goals, crucial for the common future of the world, have been widely discusse...

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Main Authors: Yilmaz Bayar, Özlem Yorulmaz, Oğuzhan Yelkesen, Valentin Toader
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2024-12-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04174-z
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author Yilmaz Bayar
Özlem Yorulmaz
Oğuzhan Yelkesen
Valentin Toader
author_facet Yilmaz Bayar
Özlem Yorulmaz
Oğuzhan Yelkesen
Valentin Toader
author_sort Yilmaz Bayar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have made remarkable progress in recent years, impacting nearly every field of society. In parallel, the effects of ICT progress on achieving sustainable development goals, crucial for the common future of the world, have been widely discussed. This study investigates the connection between critical ICT metrics—such as internet usage, mobile cellular, and fixed broadband subscriptions—and sustainable development in African countries over the 2000–2020 period using cointegration and causality tests. The cointegration coefficients indicate that mobile phone and broadband subscriptions significantly and positively affect sustainable development in African countries. Additionally, univariate causality tests reveal a unidirectional causality from mobile subscriptions to sustainable development, from sustainable development to fixed broadband subscriptions, and a two-way interplay between internet usage and sustainable development. Consequently, ICT metrics of mobile phone and fixed broadband subscriptions, and internet usage are found to be significant drivers of sustainable development in both the short and long term in African countries. Therefore, policies encouraging individuals and firms to use ICT tools to foster sustainable development will be beneficial for progressing toward sustainable development goals.
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spelling doaj-art-88931fbcfbcb4736a29d23a9cf4385b82025-08-20T02:40:14ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922024-12-0111111710.1057/s41599-024-04174-zThe interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countriesYilmaz Bayar0Özlem Yorulmaz1Oğuzhan Yelkesen2Valentin Toader3Department of Public Finance, Bandirma Onyedi Eylül UniversityDepartment of Econometrics, Istanbul UniversityDepartment of Public Finance, Bandirma Onyedi Eylül UniversityFaculty of Business, Babes-Bolyai UniversityAbstract Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have made remarkable progress in recent years, impacting nearly every field of society. In parallel, the effects of ICT progress on achieving sustainable development goals, crucial for the common future of the world, have been widely discussed. This study investigates the connection between critical ICT metrics—such as internet usage, mobile cellular, and fixed broadband subscriptions—and sustainable development in African countries over the 2000–2020 period using cointegration and causality tests. The cointegration coefficients indicate that mobile phone and broadband subscriptions significantly and positively affect sustainable development in African countries. Additionally, univariate causality tests reveal a unidirectional causality from mobile subscriptions to sustainable development, from sustainable development to fixed broadband subscriptions, and a two-way interplay between internet usage and sustainable development. Consequently, ICT metrics of mobile phone and fixed broadband subscriptions, and internet usage are found to be significant drivers of sustainable development in both the short and long term in African countries. Therefore, policies encouraging individuals and firms to use ICT tools to foster sustainable development will be beneficial for progressing toward sustainable development goals.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04174-z
spellingShingle Yilmaz Bayar
Özlem Yorulmaz
Oğuzhan Yelkesen
Valentin Toader
The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries
title_full The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries
title_fullStr The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries
title_full_unstemmed The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries
title_short The interaction between ICT penetration and sustainable development: empirical evidence from African countries
title_sort interaction between ict penetration and sustainable development empirical evidence from african countries
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04174-z
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