The social impacts of information and communication technology on sustainable development

Abstract

In this study, we examine the empirical relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) development and sustainable development and explore whether the social impacts of ICTs can play a mediating role in this linkage. Given the concentration of previous literature on the effects of ICT use on sustainable development, there exists a gap in the linkage between ICT development, social impacts of ICTs, and sustainable development. Drawing on data from secondary sources from 143 countries globally for 2016, we validate a hypothesized model based on the capabilities approach and structural equation modelling to examine these linkages. Our findings show that ICT development through ICT access has a dual role on sustainable development. First, by spurring sustainable development directly and indirectly when the social impacts of ICTs act as a mediator. We provide some implications for practice and policy.