Does digitalisation help achieve (selected) socio-economic SDGs? Evidence from emerging economies

Abstract

This study examines the impact of digitalisation on achieving the selected socio-economic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of [1] no poverty, [8] economic growth and [10] reducing inequality—set out in 2015 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly—in emerging economies. Employing the least square estimation technique on panel data of 18 emerging economies (listed by the International Monetary Fund) for the period, 2002–2020, the study finds that digitalisation significantly improves growth and reduces poverty and inequality, helping emerging economies achieve the (selected socio-economic) UN SDGs. Moreover, the study offers important policy recommendations to achieve the respective UN SDGs.