The role of mobile phones in governance-driven technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa

Asongu, Simplice and Asongu, Ndemaze (2017): The role of mobile phones in governance-driven technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa. Forthcoming in: Journal of the Knowledge Economy

Abstract

This study assesses how the mobile phone influences governance to improve information and communication technology (ICT) exports in Sub-Saharan Africa with data from 2000-2012. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments and three main governance concepts are used, namely: (i) institutional (comprising the rule of law and corruption-control); (ii) political (involving political stability/no violence and voice & accountability) and (iii) economic (including regulation quality and government effectiveness) governance. The following findings are established. First, there are positive net effects on ICT goods exports from independent interactions between mobile phones and ‘political stability’ ‘voice and accountability’ and corruption-control. Second, significant net effects are not apparent from independent interactions between mobile phones and government effectiveness, regulation quality and the rule of law. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Knowledge Economy; Development; Africa
• Subjects: L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy > L59 - Other; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L98 - Government Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O10 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O30 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O55 - Africa

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