It should be there, but it is hard to find: Economic impact of ICT in sub-saharan economies

Abstract

This study relies on a modified framework of the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) to investigate the presence of relationships between the impact of ICT on innovation and productivity and on micro- and macroeconomic outcomes. The context of the study is a 3-cluster sample of sub-Saharan (SSA) economies, and the time frame is 2012–2015. The results indicate that SSA economies, as a whole, are efficient in translating ICT capabilities into ICT impacts; however, the evidence of efficient translation of ICT impacts into micro- and macroeconomic impacts remains inconclusive. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that higher levels of relative wealth of SSA economies are associated with higher levels of ICT capabilities. The results of the data analysis suggest that the framework of NRI should be supplemented by other constructs if an investigation targets micro- and macroeconomic impacts of ICT capabilities.