6533b85bfe1ef96bd12bbd1c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The impact of information and communication technology (ICT), education and regulation on economic freedom in Islamic Middle Eastern countries

Dolores Añon HigonRoya GholamiFarid Shirazi

subject

Economic growthInformation Systems and ManagementMiddle Eastbusiness.industryInformation technologyIslamCivil libertiesArchival researchEducational attainmentManagement Information SystemsEconomic freedomDevelopment economicsSociologybusinessDigital divideInformation Systems

description

Our study investigated the impact of ICT expansion on economic freedom in the Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). Our empirical analysis used archival data from 1995 to 2005; it showed that ICT expansion in the Middle East has been effective both in bridging the digital divide and also in promoting economic freedom in a region that was vulnerable to political, social, and global conflict. However, differences between countries, such as the educational attainment of their citizens and institutional resistance to technology acceptance, both enhanced and restricted the relationship between ICT and economic freedom.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2009-12-01Information & Management
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2009.08.003