Bridging the Digital Divide: Determinants of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Diffusion in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Economies
References
- Aghion, P., Hart, O., & Moore, J. (1992). The Economics of Bankruptcy Reform (w4097; p. W4097). National Bureau of Economic Research. http://www.nber.org/papers/w4097.pdf
- Aivazidi, M., & Michalakelis, C. (2022). Diffusion of the Information and Communication Technologies in Education, Perspectives and Limitations. Creative Education, 13(07), 2186-2200. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2022.137138
- Alimi, A. S., & Adediran, I., A. (2020). ICT diffusion and the finance–growth nexus: A panel analysis on ECOWAS countries. Future Business Journal, 6(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-020-00024-x
- Arellano, M., & Bond, S. (1991). Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations. The Review of Economic Studies, 58(2), 277. https://doi.org/10.2307/2297968
- Arellano, M., & Bover, O. (1995). Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models. Journal of Econometrics, 68(1), 29-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4076(94)01642-D
- Armey, L., E., & Hosman, L. (2016). The centrality of electricity to ICT use in low-income countries. Telecommunications Policy, 40(7), 617-627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2015.08.005
- Asongu, S., A., & Biekpe, N. (2017). Government Quality Determinants of ICT Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3002189
- Asongu, S., & Biekpe, N. (2017). Government Quality Determinants of ICT Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Badi H. Baltagi. (2005). Econometric Analysis of Panel Data. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-53953-5
- Baliamoune-Lutz, M. (2003). An analysis of the determinants and effects of ICT diffusion in developing countries. Information Technology for Development, 10(3), 151-169. https://doi.org/10.1002/itdj.1590100303
- Baltagi, B., H. (2021). Econometric Analysis of Panel Data (6th ed.).
- Bello, A., A., Hassan, A., Akadiri, S., S., Onuogu, I., C., & Aliyu, U., S. (2024). Towards ICT diffusion and trade liberalisation on inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04355-x
- Bello, A., A., Renai, J., Hassan, A., Akadiri, S., S., & Itari, A. R. (2022). Synergy effects of ICT diffusion and foreign direct investment on inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(4), 9428-9444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22689-3
- Bertschek, I., & Niebel, T. (2016). Mobile and more productive? Firm-level evidence on the productivity effects of mobile internet use. Telecommunications Policy, 40(9), 888-898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2016.05.007
- Beyene, E., Bedemo, A., & Gebremeskel, A. (2024). Determinants of digital technology development in sub-Saharan African countries: Evidence from panel data analysis. Energy Informatics, 7(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42162-024-00324-4
- Blundell, R., & Bond, S. (1998). Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models. Journal of Econometrics, 87(1), 115-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(98)00009-8
- Bond, S., R. (2002). Dynamic panel data models: A guide to micro data methods and practice.
- Brauner, N., & Shacham, M. (2000). Considering precision of data in reduction of dimensionality and PCA. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 24(12), 2603-2611. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0098-1354(00)00616-5
- Buys, P., Dasgupta, S., Thomas, T., S., & Wheeler, D. (2009). Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage. World Development, 37(9), 1494-1505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2009.01.011
- Castelan, R. (2021). Mobile Internet Adoption in West Africa. World Bank.
- Dziuban, C., D., & Shirkey, E., C. (1974). When is a correlation matrix appropriate for factor analysis? Some decision rules. Psychological Bulletin, 81(6), 358-361. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0036316
- E, H., Li, S., Wang, L., & Xue, H. (2023). The Impact of ICT Capital Services on Economic Growth and Energy Efficiency in China. Energies, 16(9), 3926. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093926
- Fei, Y., Fang, L., Luo, Z., & Liang, W. (2024). Resource dependence and enterprise ESG performance: An empirical study based on A-share listed companies. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 12, 1344318. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1344318
- Fujita, M., & Krugman, P. (2004). The new economic geography: Past, present and the future. Papers in Regional Science, 83(1), 139-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10110-003-0180-0
- Giangregorio, L., & Menés, J. R. (2024). Social class origin and income variations among degree holders: Evidence from Italy. Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01337-4
- Girollet, D. (2024). Digital divides among microenterprises: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa. Journal of International Development, 36(2), 1350-1380. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3860
- Hair, J., F., Black, W., C., Babin, B., J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Hasbi, M., & Dubus, A. (2020). Determinants of mobile broadband use in developing economies: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Telecommunications Policy, 44(5), 101944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.101944
- Houngbonon, G., V., & Quentrec, E., L. (2019). Access to Electricity and ICT Usage: A Country-level Assessment on Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Hsiao, C. (2014). Analysis of Panel Data (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- Ihayere, O., B., Alege, P., O., Gershon, O., Ejemeyovwi, J., O., & Daramola, P. (2020). Information Communication Technology Access and Use towards Energy Consumption in Selected Sub Saharan Africa. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 11(1), 471-477. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.9990
- Jagannath, S., Hemmings-Jarrett, K., & Jazayeri, A. (2018). Understanding Information and Communication Technology Diffusion in Developing Countries. Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems.
- Jeffrey M. Wooldridge. (2010). Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://213.55.90.4/admin/home/Dmu%20Academic%20Resource/Postgraduate%20Studies/Accounting%20and%20finance/WOOLDRIDGE%20ECONOMETRIC%20ANALYSIS.PDF
- Jolliffe, I., T., & Cadima, J. (2016). Principal component analysis: A review and recent developments. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 374(2065), 20150202. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0202
- Kaiser, H., F. (1974). An Index of Factorial Simplicity. Psychometrika, 39(1), 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291575
- Kouladoum, J., C. (2023). Digital infrastructural development and inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Social and Economic Development, 25(2), 403-427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40847-023-00240-5
- Lee, S., Marcu, M., & Lee, S. (2011). An empirical analysis of fixed and mobile broadband diffusion. Information Economics and Policy, 23(3-4), 227-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoecopol.2011.05.001
- Myovella, G., Karacuka, M., & Haucap, J. (2021). Determinants of digitalization and digital divide in Sub-Saharan African economies: A spatial Durbin analysis. Telecommunications Policy, 45(10), 102224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2021.102224
- Nchake, M., A., & Shuaibu, M. (2022). Investment in ICT infrastructure and inclusive growth in Africa. Scientific African, 17, e01293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01293
- Nickell, S., J. (1981). Biases in Dynamic Models with Fixed Effects. Econometrica, 49(6), 1417-1426.
- O’brien, R., M. (2007). A Caution Regarding Rules of Thumb for Variance Inflation Factors. Quality & Quantity, 41(5), 673-690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-006-9018-6
- Odusanya, K., & Adetutu, M. (2020). Exploring the Determinants of Internet Usage in Nigeria: A Micro-spatial Approach. In M. Hattingh, M. Matthee, H. Smuts, I. Pappas, Y. K. Dwivedi, & M. Mäntymäki (Eds.), Responsible Design, Implementation and Use of Information and Communication Technology (Vol. 12067, pp. 307-318). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45002-1_26
- Ofori, I., K., Armah, M., K., Taale, F., & Ofori, P., E. (2021). Addressing the severity and intensity of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: How relevant is the ICT and financial development pathway? Heliyon, 7(10), e08156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08156
- Ofori, I., K., & Asongu, S., A. (2021). ICT Diffusion, Foreign Direct Investment and Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Telematics and Informatics, 65, 101718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2021.101718
- Ofori, I., K., Osei, D., B., & Alagidede, I. P. (2022). Inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring the interaction between ICT diffusion, and financial development. Telecommunications Policy, 46(7), 102315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2022.102315
- Owolabi, O., A., Adedeji, A., O., Aderounmu, B., Oku, A., R. O., & Ogunbiyi, T. (2023). Do Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and financial development contribute to economic diversification? Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Economic Structures, 12(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40008-023-00299-7
- Owusu-Agyei, S., Okafor, G., Chijoke-Mgbame, A., M., Ohalehi, P., & Hasan, F. (2020). Internet adoption and financial development in sub-Saharan Africa. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 161, 120293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120293
- Park, G. (2025). Contextualizing Mobile Diffusion of the Sub-Saharan Region: Explanatory Analysis of Factors Affecting Mobile Diffusion in Sub-Saharan African countries. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 60(2), 863-880. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096231179645
- Pesaran, M., H. (2004). General diagnostic tests for cross section dependence in panels. Cambridge Working Papers in Economics, 0435.
- Roger, M., Shulin, L., & Sesay, B. (2022). ICT Development, Innovation Diffusion and Sustainable Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sage Open, 12(4), 21582440221123894. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221123894
- Rogers, E., M. (1983). Diffusion of innovations (3rd ed). Free Press; Collier Macmillan.
- Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous Technological Change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Part 2), S71-S102. https://doi.org/10.1086/261725
- Roodman, D. (2009). A Note on the Theme of Too Many Instruments*. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 71(1), 135-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.2008.00542.x
- Salat, H., Schläpfer, M., Smoreda, Z., & Rubrichi, S. (2021). Analysing the impact of electrification on rural attractiveness in Senegal with mobile phone data. Royal Society Open Science, 8(10), 201898. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201898
- Sanga, B., & Aziakpono, M. (2022). The impact of technological innovations on financial deepening: Implications for SME financing in Africa. African Development Review, 34(4), 429-442. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12668
- Sapienza, A., Lítlá, M., Lehmann, S., & Alessandretti, L. (2023). Exposure to urban and rural contexts shapes smartphone usage behavior. PNAS Nexus, 2(11), pgad357. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad357
- Teklemariam, M., H., & Kwon, Y. (2020). Differentiating mobile broadband policies across diffusion stages: A panel data analysis. Telecommunications Policy, 44(8), 102006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.102006
- Verma, A., Dandgawhal, P., S., & Giri, A., K. (2023). Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development on economic growth in developing countries. Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Science, 28(55), 27-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEFAS-09-2021-0185
- Windmeijer, F. (2005). A finite sample correction for the variance of linear efficient two-step GMM estimators. Journal of Econometrics, 126(1), 25-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom.2004.02.005
- Windmeijer, F. (2006). GMM for panel count data models (Working Paper Series) [Working Paper Series]. https://doi.org/10.1920/wp.cem.2006.2106
- World Bank. (2023a). The Size and Distribution of Digital Connectivity Gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099241003142325200/pdf/IDU0cb2e42f3050260484d0b8370b84eee303ecf.pdf
- World Bank. (2023b). World Development Indicators 2023. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
Language: English
Page range: 58 - 85
Submitted on: Sep 1, 2025
Accepted on: Nov 1, 2025
Published on: May 18, 2026
Published by: John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Related subjects:
© 2026 Wondimeneh Desalegn Moges, published by John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.