The effect of information and communication technology on economic output: An empirical study of the Republic of Fiji Islands
International Journal of Development Issues
ISSN: 1446-8956
Article publication date: 20 June 2019
Issue publication date: 24 June 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Information and communication technology (ICT) appears to play an indispensable task in influencing and directing the growth process of several developing countries. The spread of ICT in the South Pacific region including Fiji has facilitated faster and smother business in different sectors of the economy such as banking, education, transport and tourism. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to empirical literature and explore the effect of ICT on economic output, both in the short run and long run in the Fiji Islands.
Design/methodology/approach
The economic analysis was conducted using data from 1990 to 2016, improved framework of Solow (1956) and the autoregressive distributed-lag bounds approach to cointegration. Findings from the study and economic standpoint, the ICT is indeed important. The analysis shows an indication of long-run cointegration relationship among the variables for the two indicators of ICT. From the analysis, it is also observed that the two ICT indicators have a statistically significant and positive effect on output with coefficient ranging from 0.04 to 0.06.
Research limitations/implications
These results extend the ICT literature by providing support for it in case of a small developing island economy. The study highlights that while the two proxies of ICT are important for long term output growth, besides broad money and capital stock, the principal technology contributor is a mobile cellular subscription in Fiji Islands.
Practical implications
The policymakers need to work diligently to not only enhance ICT related infrastructure but also focus on better services and communication in different sectors of the economy. The efficient use of present technologies such as 3-G and 4-G is crucial and must be connected and made available to other smaller islands of Fiji.
Originality/value
The recent study has focused on the contribution of ICT on small island developing country, relative to large developing or developed countries. Furthermore, the author examined the contribution of two indicators of ICT using Solow (1956) augmented framework.
Keywords
Citation
Makun, K. and Devi, S. (2019), "The effect of information and communication technology on economic output: An empirical study of the Republic of Fiji Islands", International Journal of Development Issues, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 229-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDI-09-2018-0137
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited