The impacts of telecommunications infrastructure and institutional quality on trade efficiency in Africa
Date
2015Author
Bankole, Felix Olu
Osei-Bryson, Kweku-Muata
Brown, Irwin
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
One of the dominant issues for Information Systems (IS) researchers in developing countries
is to determine the impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure
expansion on socio-economic development. Generating sustained socio-economic
development in Africa depends largely on the ability of nations to make profitable
investments and accumulate capital, which could be achieved through efficient ICTenabled trade flows. Trade supports employment creation and improves national income
levels, revenue generation, consumer price reductions and government spending. It is a key
driver of African poverty alleviation, growth, economic maturity and human development.
Previous research, in particular Bankole et al. [(2013a). The impact of information and
communications technology infrastructure and complementary factors on intra-African
trade. Information Technology for Development] identified the significant and positive
effect of telecommunication infrastructure and institutional quality (IQ) on intra-African
trade flows. As part of the ongoing research discourse on ICT for Development, the current
article explores the impacts of telecommunications infrastructure and IQ on trade efficiency
in Africa, using archival data from 28 African countries. We employed partial least squares
analysis, data envelopment analysis and regression splines to analyze data. Our results
suggest that IQ coupled with telecommunication infrastructure enhance efficiencies in
intra-African trade flows.