A Better Proxy for Technology Determinant of Economic Growth: The International Digital Economy and Society Index

Elif Asoy ()
Additional contact information
Elif Asoy: Istanbul Aydin University, Anadolu BIL Vocational School, Business Management Program, Istanbul, Turkiye

Istanbul Journal of Economics-Istanbul Iktisat Dergisi, 2024, vol. 73, issue 74-1, 225-251

Abstract: The importance of information communication technology in fueling economic growth is widely acknowledged. In the current digital era, the International Digital Economy and Society Index (I-DESI) offers a more precise depiction alternative to the ICT indicators by serving as a better proxy for changes in the factors of production. It monitors the advancement of ICT in the EU27 and 14 non-EU nations, highlighting their strides towards a technologydriven economy. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of the I-DESI on economic growth through the utilization of the panel data method. Hence, gross domestic product (GDP) measured at constant prices was utilized as the dependent variable in the analysis, while the Index of Digital Economy and Society Integration (I-DESI), calculated by the European Commission, served as the independent variable. However, it’s important to note that the described index is current and limited at present. In line with this constraint, only four years of data, spanning from 2015 to 2018, were available. To ensure the accuracy of the model, diagnostic tests were conducted, and the Driscoll-Kraay standard error model was employed to assess the outcomes. Two models were constructed to achieve this goal, with the initial one revealing the relationship between the I-DESI and economic growth. The second model aimed to pinpoint the dimensions of the I-DESI that had the greatest impact on growth. According to findings obtained from the analysis, I-DESI and certain subdimensions which are digital skills, use of internet, integration of digital technology, and digital public services affect economic growth positively and significantly. A one percent increase in I-DESI results in a one percent increase in GDP. Similarly, each subdimension mentioned, where meaningful relationships have been identified, possesses explanatory power for GDP. Furthermore, evaluating the coefficient of these independent variables, changing the weight of dimensions can be considered.

Keywords: Digital economy; Economic growth; Technology; International digital economy and society index; Driscoll-Kraay model JEL Classification: O14; O33; O47 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/34DF166EDE2744F8980C822A0CED0C53 (application/pdf)
https://iupress.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/journal/ije/art ... my-and-society-index (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ist:journl:v:73:y:2024:i:1:p:225-251

DOI: 10.26650/ISTJECON2023-1327567

Access Statistics for this article

Istanbul Journal of Economics-Istanbul Iktisat Dergisi is currently edited by Gökhan Karabulut

More articles in Istanbul Journal of Economics-Istanbul Iktisat Dergisi from Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Istanbul University Press Operational Team (Ertuğrul YAŞAR) ().