The economic impact of ICT

The debate on the extent to which ICT affect economic growth is ongoing. There is no consensus regarding positive and statistically significant effects from these technologies (Campos, 2007b). Today, most economists maintain that they do have positive effects— whether widespread or concentrated in the developed countries and dependent on the local environment. Others, however, are still sceptical about the existence of such effects or have doubts about the direction of causality, since countries with high per capita GDP growth are likely to invest heavily in ICT, and countries that invest heavily in ICT are likely to attain higher rates of growth. This section will examine measurements of the phenomenon in Latin America based on two different methodologies: growth accounting and the analysis of technological trajectories in the context of national systems of innovation.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure