Estimating the impact of digital technologies on government operations, business operations and general welfare: The case of South Africa

The shift towards digitalization is fundamentally transforming societies and changing lives. Meanwhile, many African countries are lagging behind on the dividends of accelerated digital technologies to address their developmental challenges. This is partly because of the dearth of evidence demonstrating how technological integration impacts on economic growth and poverty reduction. By relying on panel data for the period 2011–2021, this study empirically estimates the degree to which ICT adoption contributes to South Africa’s economic competitiveness along four indicators: boosting productivity, accelerating business growth, increasing government operational efficiency, and creating opportunities for people. The data were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. The findings indicated a strong positive correlation between the application of digital technologies and the improvement of business operations welfare improvement, and GDP growth. The findings suggest to policymakers the need to prioritize interventions that drive investment in digital infrastructure. Given the net positive effects of ICT innovations, it is also recommended that policymakers focus on building the ICT skills of South Africans, while ensuring a business-friendly environment that enables fast digital penetration in the economy.