Mutual influence of quality education and ICT skills in promoting economic growth

Aligned with the fourth UN Sustainable Development Goal, this study examines the potential correlation among education quality, ICT skills, and economic growth. Utilizing the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) methodology, we analyze dynamic fixed-effect panel data spanning 2010 to 2021 across 26 low-income, 20 middle-income, and 15 high-income countries. Our results indicate a positive impact of ICT skills and education quality on economic growth, for all country groups, with education quality enhancing this effect compared to ICT skills alone. The interaction between these factors underscores their complementary role in fostering economic growth. Notably, the impact has become more pronounced in recent years, attributed to advancements in ICT facilitating improvements in education quality. When examining income levels, low-income nations exhibit more substantial coefficients for ICT skills and education quality than middle- and high-income countries, emphasizing the significant potential for progress in low-income contexts. Our findings withstand various robustness checks, affirming their reliability and providing compelling policy implications for the roles of education quality and ICT skills in propelling economic growth.