The Impact of ICT on Terrorism in African Countries

Abstract

Although the macroeconomic effects of information and communication technology (ICT) has been a topic of many debates in the literature over the past 20 years, the effect of ICT on terrorism is still largely unexplored. Using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique, this paper investigates the impact of ICT on terrorism on a panel of 49 African countries over the period 1998-2012. Two ICT indicators (Internet and Mobile) and four different but linked terrorism indicators (Domestic, transnational, unclear and total terrorisms) are used. The paper finds a significant positive effect of ICT on terrorism.