International differences and dynamic evolution of trade in digitally deliverable services

Digitization has expanded the scale, scope, and velocity of international service trade; nevertheless, a notable disparity persists in the digitization journey between developed and developing nations. This discrepancy arises from the capital and technology-intensive essence of digital technologies. Consequently, this divide further accentuates the rift in international digital trade between advanced and developing economies. For effective policy interventions, estimating and analysing the prevailing gaps in the global trade network and convergence potential between leaders and ladders is imperative. Hence, this study aims to estimate disparities at both global and regional perspectives in the realm of digital trade. It uses the Dagum Gini coefficient, kernel density, Moran's I and Markov chain to measure the international differences and dynamic evolution of digital deliverable services trade between 2005 and 2020. The findings indicate that, when examining regional disparities, the variance in digital delivery service trade between Asia and Africa exhibits a progressively widening pattern. Conversely, North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and South Asia display a heightened concentration level. The evolution of the digital deliverable services trade follows a path-dependent trajectory marked by spillover and Matthew effects.