Digital Trade and Economic Growth from the Perspective of Digital Services
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DOI: 10.25236/ssehr.2021.062
Author(s)
Wenbohao Zhu, Xiaofeng Li, Bo Sun
Corresponding Author
Xiaofeng Li
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between digital trade and economic development from the perspective of digital service trade. Using a newly compiled panel of 47 countries over a 13-year period from 2005 to 2017, the paper reports estimate as follows: 1. The increase of digital service trade can significantly promote the degree of economic development. 2. The promotion effect of digital service trade import on economic development is greater than that of export. 3. Digital service trade plays an important role in promoting economic development in high-income and middle-income countries, but it is not significant in low-income countries. Based on the analysis, it is proposed that countries should attach importance to digital trade and improve the infrastructure investment of digital and ICT industries, and that low-income countries should first guarantee and improve the livelihood of the people through the deepening of reform so as to reap benefits from digital trade.
Keywords
Digital trade, Economic development, Economic growth, Digital service trade