When more is less: Do information and communication technologies (ICTs) improve health outcomes? An empirical investigation in a non-linear framework

Abstract

The purpose of our research is to investigate the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) on the physical health outcomes of nations. The covered countries are 185 (54 high-income and 131 low-income countries, also analysed on subsamples) and the period of the analysis is 2005–2018. We use parametric regression analysis of unbalanced panel data and our quadratic models validate the influence of ICT upon life expectancies, mortality rates and measles immunisation rates, controlling for economic prosperity, cultural dimensions and environmental performances. Our results are original within the specialized literature, shedding new light on the ICT infrastructure - health status nexus as they support the inverted U-shaped relationship between internet users and mobile cellular subscriptions as ICTs proxies on the one hand and population health outcomes proxies on the other. We also validate a multiplier effect of ICT proxies upon mortality rates from high-income countries to low-income countries, as follows: the negative effect of Internet access and online information usage is 3.34 times stronger in low-income countries compared to high-income countries. These findings are robust to various estimation techniques, alternative measures of ICT or health and various added controls. The drawbacks are major: in a world in which healthcare programs and policies consider digital inclusion, the limits of using technologies for the benefit of one's health have to be firmly determined. From regular individuals to top policymakers, one should consider when more ICT infrastructure becomes actually less for people's health status.