This study examines the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on economic growth in a sample of 10 developing countries (Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, and Türkiye) during the period 2003-2023. In addition to labor and capital, which are primary factors of production in the traditional growth model, mobile cellular subscriptions, individuals using the internet, landline telephone subscriptions, and fixed broadband subscriptions were used to represent ICT. After identifying problems of autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence in the model, the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) estimator, which yields effective results under these conditions, was chosen. Furthermore, the causal relationship between the selected variables and economic growth was investigated using the Dumitrescu-Hurlin test. Mobile cellular subscriptions negatively affect economic growth, while fixed telephone subscriptions, internet usage, and fixed broadband have positive effects. However, it was determined that the effects of ICT components differed in magnitude, and it was concluded that the strongest effect on economic growth stemmed from communication systems based on fixed telephone subscriptions. Labor and capital also contribute positively to growth. Causality analysis reveals a bidirectional relationship only between labor and growth, while unidirectional causality runs from fixed telephone subscriptions, internet usage, fixed broadband, and capital to economic growth, and from growth to mobile subscriptions. Overall, the study shows that the quality of digital infrastructure is a significant determinant of economic performance in developing countries.
Mücahit Ülger (Mon,) studied this question.