Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Economic Growth During the Corona-Virus Pandemic

Abstract

This article is an attempt to assess in real time the colossal impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the health, economic and social sectors in MATE countries. This study reviews the literature on the negative impacts of epidemic uncertainty on economic activity.In fact, we used Pedroni’s co-integration analysis to determine the determinants of economic growth over the 2001-2020 period.Moreover, empirical results show that the decline of economic growth in these countries was triggered by a combination of a number of deaths, rising unemployment rates and a decline of gross fixed capital formation and education spending.All these costs are due to the containment measures which imply a reduction in economic activity. More than that, we find that Information and Communication Technologyplays a driving role in economic growth with a two-way link between the Internet User and GDP. This document helps promote future research and technology development to provide better solutions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics and thereby save the economic activity.