Beyond access: How gender equality and education shape the growth effect of ICT

This study investigates how gender equality shapes the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and economic growth. Using panel data from 130 developing countries between 1990 and 2021, we estimate a series of two-step system GMM models to assess the impact of mobile cellular subscriptions and internet access on GDP per capita. While ICT adoption shows a significant positive effect on economic growth, this effect is not uniform across contexts. Our analysis finds that gender equality, measured by female labor force participation and gender development indices, is a key condition that amplifies the growth-enhancing effects of ICT. Interaction models reveal that ICT contributes more effectively to economic growth in countries where women participate more equally in the labor market and have greater access to the internet and mobile cellular networks. Threshold analysis shows that even modest increases in gender inclusion can significantly boost ICT’s economic returns. Education, particularly secondary enrollment, also strengthens ICT’s impact on growth, underscoring the role of human capital. These findings suggest that the digital economy delivers the greatest benefits when inclusive social structures are in place. Gender-inclusive digital strategies are therefore critical for translating technology into equitable and sustained growth.