Title: Not all that glitters is gold: ICT and inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors: Simplice A. Asongu; Jacinta C. Nwachukwu

Addresses: African Governance and Development Institute, P.O. Box 8413, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Economics, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Pretoria South Africa ' Faculty of Business and Law, School of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Coventry University Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK

Abstract: This paper examines the short- and long-term effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on inclusive human development in a panel of 49 Sub-Saharan African countries for the period 2000-2012. ICT is measured in terms of mobile phone penetration, internet penetration and telephone penetration rates. While mobile phone penetration has positive short run and long-term effects on inclusive human development, the effects of internet and telephone penetrations are insignificant. Moreover, the long-term inclusive human development benefits of the mobile phone are higher than the corresponding short-term rewards. Policy implications are discussed.

Keywords: information and communication technology; ICT; inclusive human development; Africa.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2017.087932

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2017 Vol.3 No.4, pp.303 - 322

Received: 11 Nov 2016
Accepted: 20 Dec 2016
Published online: 13 Nov 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article