Influence of the Internet on the Economic Growth of the Belt and Road Region

Abstract

As a general technology, the Internet promotes economic growth in various forms. We apply a dynamic panel data approach to measure the impact of the Internet on the gross domestic product (GDP) using data from 65 countries in the Belt and Road Region during the period 1996–2014. The results show that the Internet has a positive and statistically significant effect on the economic growth. These effects strengthen along with the development of the Internet. Many factors such as capital, labor force, technology, industrial structure, international trade, and economic level are essential to explain the differences in the influence of the Internet on the economic growth among the Belt and Road countries. With R-type factor analysis, two factor components can summarize above indicators: one represents the level of economic development and the other represents the level of intensification of the economic development mode. According to the different national situations, the BRI countries must adopt various strategies to actively promote the development of their information industry, and jointly develop the “Digital Silk Road.”