Investigating the Impact of Information and Communications Technology on Economic Growth and Unemployment in the Countries of the MENA Region

Today, information and communication technology has extensive effects on economic and social variables at the micro and macro level, among which what is most important is its impact on economic growth and the issue of employment and unemployment. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of selected indicators of information and communication technology (FAVA) on the economic growth and unemployment of MENA countries. For this purpose, this research is specified and estimated based on the econometric model in the framework of panel data using fixed effects (FE) and the FGLS model for the years 2000 to 2019. The findings show that the variables of Internet penetration rate and mobile phone SIM card subscription rate have a significant positive effect on the economic growth and increase in the real per capita income of MENA countries, and on the other hand, they have a negative and significant effect on the unemployment rate of these countries; The fixed internet (and fixed telephone) subscription rate variable does not have a significant effect on the economic growth and unemployment rate of these countries. Also, according to the results, economic growth has a negative and significant effect on the unemployment rate, and Okan's law is true in these countries. Although the coefficient of calculation in this research is less than the value of Okan's calculation and this indicates the importance that the growth of GDP in MENA countries is less job-creating, which can be due to the fact that the economic growth of these countries is due to oil and natural resources. knew Therefore, it is necessary to increase the penetration rate of the Internet among the citizens of the MENA region, international institutions (World Bank, United Nations, etc.) should support the weak countries of the MENA region by granting free and low-interest loans in order to expand ICT. Because it reduces the exchange cost and has many positive external effects.