Towards economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: is there a synergy between insurance market development and ICT diffusion?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study contributes to the literature by investigating the intervening role of information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion on insurance and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study uses the generalized method of moments technique based on 36 countries, spanning 2007–2020. First, the empirical findings reveal that insurance penetration (i.e. total, life and nonlife) and ICT diffusion induce economic growth in SSA. Second, the evidence suggests that ICT boosts the role of insurance in affecting economic growth. Third, the individual ICT variables such as fixed broadband, telephone and internet propel the impact of total and life penetration on growth. Additionally, fixed broadband was remarkable in enhancing the effect of nonlife penetration on growth. The findings imply that though insurance enhances economic growth, its impact is more revealing through the intervening role of ICT infrastructure. Therefore, insurers must embrace technology and leverage ICT development to improve their performance on growth.