Does Level of Education Modulate the ICT-Economic Growth Nexus? Further Insight from Sub-Saharan African Countries

This study contributes to the extant literature on the modulated ICT-economic growth nexus by investigating the role of level of education in the relationship between ICT and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Pooling annual time series for 39 sub-Saharan African countries from 2011 to 2020, the study analysed the nexus within the generalised method of moment (GMM) framework. The study found that the modulating effect of level of education varies with the measure of ICT. Specifically, the interaction of level of education with ICT proxied by mobile cellular subscription hampers economic growth. However, level of education spurs Internet usage to promote economic growth. This finding suggests that the modulating role of level of education in the ICT-economic growth nexus is dependent on the measure of ICT. While level of education and mobile cellular subscription are substitutes in the economic growth process, level of education shares a complementary relationship with ICT measured by Internet usage.