Abstract:
The rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT) and is
one of the main factors in increasing the efficiency, productivity, and overall
performance of a system, has encouraged a growing number of researchers to study
and measure the effects of this technology on economic growth, this thesis also aims
to explore the increasing importance of ICT usage in international trade which one of
the key factors in economic growth. Different indexes in measuring ICT usage are
reviewed with their pillars and the top country rankings. Taking the Global
Competitiveness Index 2019 as the source, this study examines the effects of ICT on
the integration of countries in international trade by considering the Trade/GDP ratio
as an indicator of their integration. The panel data is generated by taking 21 countries
and ten years into account without time lag and eight years with two years of time lag.
The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between ICT usage
and a country's Trade/GDP ratio. Especially, the Individuals using the internet,
University-industry collaboration in research and development (R&D), and
Availability of scientists and engineers are seen to be three of the most influential
factors to affect the Trade/GDP ratio positively, while on the other hand, firms' FDI
and technology transfer and Government procurement of advanced technology
products are the most negatively sub-pillars of ICT usage. Additionally, the
University-industry collaboration in research and development also seems to be
candidates for being influential factors for the Trade/GDP ratio in the long run.
