FDI and ICT Effects on Productivity Growth: A Comparative Analysis of Developing and Developed Countries

This article investigates for possible effects stemming from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on productivity growth. The analysis is based on panel data covering a sample of 42 developing and developed countries during the period 1993-2001. The growth accounting results indicate that the growth contribution of ICT was quite high for both developed and developing countries. On the contrary, the FDI contribution was relatively low. The econometric results showed a positive and significant impact of ICT in all groups, the effect being larger among developing countries. Positive and significant FDI effects were found in the group of developed countries, and positive but insignificant, among the developing ones.