Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries

Abstract Amidst COVID-19 related confinement measures, economies worldwide have transitioned to online platforms, making ICT essential for sustaining economic activities. This study investigates the role of ICT in mitigating the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed a compre...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Bilal, Sohaib Aqib, Ahmad Raza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-12-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00729-x
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author Muhammad Bilal
Sohaib Aqib
Ahmad Raza
author_facet Muhammad Bilal
Sohaib Aqib
Ahmad Raza
author_sort Muhammad Bilal
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Amidst COVID-19 related confinement measures, economies worldwide have transitioned to online platforms, making ICT essential for sustaining economic activities. This study investigates the role of ICT in mitigating the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed a comprehensive ICT index developed by UNCTAD, including indicators such as fixed broadband, mobile phone subscriptions, and secure internet servers, using data from 100 countries between 2017 and 2022. Utilizing Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation to address endogeneity, our analysis reveals that a percentage increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths led to declines in GDP growth by 0.67 and 0.87 percentage points, respectively. However, ICT significantly alleviated the adverse economic effects of the pandemic. The negative impact was more severe in developing countries, where ICT played a crucial role in mitigation. These findings suggest important policy implications, highlighting the need for increased ICT investment and capacity building to enhance economic resilience against future crises.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2662-9984
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spelling doaj-art-e1129abd12b4403b912cc49cb450354c2025-01-05T12:05:13ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842024-12-015111710.1007/s43621-024-00729-xStrengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countriesMuhammad Bilal0Sohaib Aqib1Ahmad Raza2Research Institute of Economics and Management, Southwestern University of Finance and EconomicsArdis Research and Consultancy (Pvt) LtdResearch Institute of Economics and Management, Southwestern University of Finance and EconomicsAbstract Amidst COVID-19 related confinement measures, economies worldwide have transitioned to online platforms, making ICT essential for sustaining economic activities. This study investigates the role of ICT in mitigating the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed a comprehensive ICT index developed by UNCTAD, including indicators such as fixed broadband, mobile phone subscriptions, and secure internet servers, using data from 100 countries between 2017 and 2022. Utilizing Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation to address endogeneity, our analysis reveals that a percentage increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths led to declines in GDP growth by 0.67 and 0.87 percentage points, respectively. However, ICT significantly alleviated the adverse economic effects of the pandemic. The negative impact was more severe in developing countries, where ICT played a crucial role in mitigation. These findings suggest important policy implications, highlighting the need for increased ICT investment and capacity building to enhance economic resilience against future crises.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00729-xICTEconomic growthResilienceCOVID-19
spellingShingle Muhammad Bilal
Sohaib Aqib
Ahmad Raza
Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries
Discover Sustainability
ICT
Economic growth
Resilience
COVID-19
title Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries
title_full Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries
title_fullStr Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries
title_full_unstemmed Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries
title_short Strengthening economic resilience through ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from 100 countries
title_sort strengthening economic resilience through ict during the covid 19 pandemic evidence from 100 countries
topic ICT
Economic growth
Resilience
COVID-19
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00729-x
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AT sohaibaqib strengtheningeconomicresiliencethroughictduringthecovid19pandemicevidencefrom100countries
AT ahmadraza strengtheningeconomicresiliencethroughictduringthecovid19pandemicevidencefrom100countries