Title: The role of information and communication technology in human development: a global longitudinal study

Authors: Myungho Lee; Mincheol Kang

Addresses: Department of MIS, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, South Korea ' Department of e-Business, School of Business, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, South Korea

Abstract: Although countries are intensively using information and communication technology (ICT), ICT's effects on human development have not yet been fully elucidated. Some recent studies have addressed the effect of ICT use on human development, but have limited their investigations within a single country, within a limited region of the world, or in dozens of countries at most. The present study extends this literature by investigating whether ICT use positively impacts human development over time at the country level, worldwide. The study employed panel data analysis using data from 139 countries across the world from the years 2007-2016. The results showed that both fixed and mobile broadband subscriptions significantly improved the human development index (HDI). Interestingly, however, impacts differed depending on the country's economic development level. Mobile broadband increased human development levels in low-income countries, while any broadband type increased human development levels in middle and high-income countries.

Keywords: ICT use; fixed-broadband; active mobile-broadband; human development index; HDI; developed countries; developing countries; low-income countries; high-income countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.138780

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2024 Vol.23 No.4, pp.474 - 499

Received: 27 Jul 2021
Accepted: 07 Aug 2022
Published online: 31 May 2024 *

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