Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Economics and Political Science - Department of Economics

The main aim of this study is to assess the impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure on the economic growth for some selected developing countries, especially those falling in low income and lower middle income categories, by using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) growth model over the period of 1997{u2013}2017. The results reveal that there is a long run relationship between ICT infrastructure and economic growth. The internet penetration rate affects positively the economic growth. However, the telecommunications infrastructure affects growth adversely for selected developing countries, due to their inability to afford the cost of the infrastructure required to install and diffuse fixed telephone lines over all their territories, as well as the lack of right environmental conditions such as basic infrastructure, business practices, and appropriate government policies. From a policy perspective, in order to benefit from the ICT drivers of economic growth, policymakers should enact several important policies that permit the development of ICT sectors, provide a more convenient regulatory and institutional environment, increase economy openness, and prioritize the allocation of resources to the development of ICT infrastructure

Issued also as CD