Telecommunications and economic growth: a panel data approach

Telecommunication investment is increasingly identified as one with a strong potential to improve economic productivity and growth. The objective of this study is to investigate the long run relationship between telecommunications infrastructure and economic growth, using data from 22 OECD countries. A dynamic panel data method is used for estimation, which corrects for omitted variables bias of single equation cross-section regression. The ‘fixed-effects’ specification accounts for country specific differences in aggregate production functions. The results show a significant and positive correlation between telecommunications infrastructure and growth, after controlling for a number of other factors.