The role of ICT and effect of national culture on economic growth
Parvathi Jayaprakash, Radhakrishna G. Pillai
Abstract
The ubiquitous nature of ICT makes it an inevitable choice to address economic growth of a nation. The literature indicates a positive significance of ICT on economic growth, but intensity of the usage of ICT highly depends on the nature of the society. This study uses the perspective that sustained usage of ICT is highly dependent on various factors and facets of the society. Using national culture as a societal facet, the study demonstrates the necessity of congruence between ICT usage and national cultural values to attain desired level of economic growth. The results indicate that national culture dimensions and ICT have a significant influence on the economic growth of a nation. The study demonstrates variations in using ICT for economic growth depending on cultures in different regions of the world. The study has implications for policy makers at national and international levels regarding the usage of ICT for economic growth.