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Inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring the interaction between ICT diffusion, and financial development

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  • Ofori, Isaac K.
  • Osei, Dennis B.
  • Alagidede, Imhotep P.

Abstract

Despite the momentous rise in ICT diffusion, and financial development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), their plausible joint effect on inclusive growth have not been explored, leaving a lacuna in the literature. This study, therefore, examines the direct and indirect effects of ICT diffusion on inclusive growth in 42 SSA countries over the period 1980–2019. We provide evidence robust to several specifications from the dynamic system GMM to show that: (i) ICT skills, access and usage induce inclusive growth in SSA, and (ii) the effects of ICT skills, access and usage are enhanced in the presence of financial development. These findings remain the same when we focussed on financial institution access. Policy recommendations are provided in line with the region's green growth agenda and striving efforts at improving socioeconomic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Ofori, Isaac K. & Osei, Dennis B. & Alagidede, Imhotep P., 2022. "Inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring the interaction between ICT diffusion, and financial development," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:46:y:2022:i:7:s0308596122000180
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2022.102315
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    2. Emmanuel Baffour Gyau & Paschal P. Paaga & Ernest Asimeng & Bright Boadu, 2023. "Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between Financial Development and ICT Infrastructure Development in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(8), pages 629-641, August.
    3. Ofori, Isaac K. & Dossou, Marcel A.M. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Armah, Mark K., 2023. "Bridging Africa’s income inequality gap: How relevant is China’s outward FDI to Africa?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    4. Toyo Amègnonna Marcel Dossou, 2023. "Income Inequality in Africa: Exploring the Interaction Between Urbanization and Governance Quality," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 421-450, June.
    5. Ahmad, Ahmad Hassan & Green, Christopher J. & Jiang, Fei & Murinde, Victor, 2023. "Mobile money, ICT, financial inclusion and growth: How different is Africa?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    6. Honoré Tekam Oumbé & Ronald Djeunankan & Alain Mekia Ndzana, 2023. "Does information and communication technologies affect economic complexity?," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 1-25, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial development; Financial inclusion; ICT diffusion; Inequality; Inclusive; Growth; Poverty; Sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit
    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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