ICT diffusion, women empowerment, and sustainable development in SAARC countries

Abstract

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion in women empowerment and in fostering the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries using panel data from 2005 to 2020.Design/methodology/approachAn ICT diffusion index was constructed using principal component analysis (PCA). Further, the study uses econometric techniques robust to cross-sectional dependence (CSD) which include Pesaran's CSD tests, second-generation unit root test, Pedroni, Kao, Westerlund cointegration test, FMOLS, DCCE, Driscoll–Kraay (DK) regression, and D&H causality tests.FindingsICT diffusion and economic growth have a significant and favorable impact on women's empowerment. However, fertility rates and trade openness harm women's empowerment. In addition, the causality test results depict a bidirectional causal relationship between ICT and women empowerment and between growth and women empowerment. In addition, unidirectional causality is detected between education and women's empowerment. Overall, the findings indicate that expanding ICT and bridging the digital divide, particularly among women, can be effective in achieving empowerment-related SDGs.Originality/valueTo date, there are hardly any studies in SAARC context that empirically evaluate the link between ICT, women empowerment, and the issue of sustainability in a unified framework. Therefore, this study is unique in terms of conceptualization and methodological robustness in this context. The study will benefit policymakers and regulatory bodies to formulate appropriate policies to empower women and thereby attain the SDGs by 2030.

Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development on economic growth in developing countries

“…To examine the research hypothesis and enhance methodological transparency, the study follows Aguinis et al (2018) and adopts a panel data sample covering the annual data of 88 developing countries from 2005 to 2019. The variables include the per capita real gross domestic product (GDP) constant at 2010 United States (US)$ (GDP), which measures economic growth; the financial development index (FD) based on Svirydzenka (2016), which evaluates financial sector development on several dimensions; and ICT diffusion proxied by ICT diffusion index (Pradhan et al, 2020;Verma et al, 2022). In addition, the study employs principal component analysis (PCA) to establish an ICT diffusion index, which includes fixed telephone subscription (per 100 individuals), mobile cellular subscription (per 100 individuals), fixed broadband subscription (per 100 individuals) and percentage of individuals using the Internet.…”

“…The variables include the per capita real gross domestic product (GDP) constant at 2010 United States (US)$ (GDP), which measures economic growth; the financial development index (FD) based on Svirydzenka (2016), which evaluates financial sector development on several dimensions; and ICT diffusion proxied by ICT diffusion index (Pradhan et al. , 2020; Verma et al. , 2022).…”

The Role of Coastal Women’s Empowerment in Achieving The Success of SDGs: A Study on The Kebaya Group, Bekasi

“…The first grouping pertains to research on women and ecological problem-solving (Nastabilla, Prakoso, & Alhafizh, 2022;Prakash, Mcglade, Roxy, & Roy, 2022;Srinath, 2008), with some studies even using the term "green social work". The second grouping focuses on research related to women's empowerment in the context of sustainable development, and it has found that there is a significant contribution to achieving sustainable development goals (Aluko & Okuwa, 2018;AMAECHI, 2019;Verma, Giri, & Debata, 2022) when carried out through women's empowerment. The novelty in this research lies in the specificity of the region, as women's empowerment contributing to sustainable development goals in this study is conducted in coastal areas.…”

ICT, Gender Inequality, and Income Inequality: A Panel Data Analysis Across Countries

“…Having a well-founded ICT penetration and access can help improve gender equality in a variety of ways, laying the groundwork for gender-inclusive policy and planning. ICT can be a valuable resource for women's empowerment, particularly in the economic sphere (Verma et al, 2022 ).…”