The ICT–Economic Growth Nexus: Revisiting the Impact of the Internet on GDP

Abstract

Over the past decades, the intensive development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has prompted numerous studies assessing the relationship between ICT and economic growth. Initial doubts about the importance of the Internet for economic growth have recently been replaced by conclusions supporting the positive significance of this technological revolution. However, despite the abundant research conducted in recent years, the obtained outcomes do not allow for a consensus, particularly regarding the impact of specific types of ICT. This paper investigates the connection between Internet usage and economic growth. The estimation is based on a broad group of economies (88 countries) from 2006 to 2020 using data from the International Telecommunication Union database. The results suggest a statistically significant relationship between Internet usage and GDP growth.