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Does the digital divide across countries lead to convergence? New international evidence

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  • Rath, Badri Narayan

Abstract

We examine the convergence of information and communication technologies (ICT) among 47 developed and emerging countries using annual data from 2000 to 2012. We construct an ICT development index using a principal component analysis. The results, based on a dynamic panel data model, reveal a divergence in ICT development. This study identifies two factors that drive a country's digitalization divergence level: the growth of per capita income and the ratio of urban to rural population. In addition, ICT divergence is higher in emerging countries than in developed countries.

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  • Rath, Badri Narayan, 2016. "Does the digital divide across countries lead to convergence? New international evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 75-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:58:y:2016:i:c:p:75-82
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2016.05.020
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    2. Saba, Charles Shaaba & David, Oladipo Olalekan, 2020. "Convergence patterns in global ICT: Fresh insights from a club clustering algorithm," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(10).
    3. Rath, Badri Narayan & Panda, Bibhudutta & Akram, Vaseem, 2023. "Convergence and determinants of ICT development in case of emerging market economies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(2).
    4. Teck-Lee Wong & Wee-Yeap Lau & Tien-Ming Yip, 2020. "Cashless Payments and Economic Growth: Evidence from Selected OECD Countries," Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice, Central bank of Montenegro, vol. 9(special i), pages 189-213.
    5. Akram, Vaseem & Rath, Badri Narayan & Sahoo, Pradipta Kumar, 2020. "Stochastic conditional convergence in per capita energy consumption in India," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 224-240.
    6. Charles Shaaba Saba & Oladipo Olalekan David, 2023. "Identifying Convergence in Telecommunication Infrastructures and the Dynamics of Their Influencing Factors Across Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 1413-1466, June.
    7. Vaseem Akram & Badri Narayan Rath, 2018. "Exchange rate misalignment and total factor productivity growth in case of emerging market economies," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 547-564, July.
    8. Fisher, Matthew & Freeman, Toby & Schram, Ashley & Baum, Fran & Friel, Sharon, 2020. "Implementing policy on next-generation broadband networks and implications for equity of access to high speed broadband: A case study of Australia's NBN," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7).
    9. Arindam Paul & Dukhabandhu Sahoo & Amrita Jena, 2023. "Asymmetric impacts of ICT and energy intensity on agricultural productivity: Evidence from Asia‐Pacific region," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1537-1561, August.
    10. Wang, Di & Zhou, Tao & Wang, Mengmeng, 2021. "Information and communication technology (ICT), digital divide and urbanization: Evidence from Chinese cities," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Hazwan Haini & Pang Wei Loon, 2022. "Information Communication Technologies, Globalisation and Growth: Evidence from the ASEAN Economies," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 41(1), pages 34-53, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ICT development; Absolute convergence; Conditional convergence; Dynamic panel model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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