Impact of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure on women's economic empowerment in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries: the catalytic effect of democracy

Abstract: The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between ICT infrastructure and the women's economic empowerment, considering the quality of democracy. Based on a fixed effects model covering the period 2005–2022 using a panel of WAEMU countries, our estimation results reveal that information and communication technology infrastructures negatively affect the economic automation of women in the region. Conversely, democracy positively influences the women's economic empowerment. Furthermore, the interaction between ICT infrastructure and democracy positively impacts women's participation in the labor market, thus confirming the catalytic role of democracy in the relationship between ICT infrastructure and women's economic empowerment. These results imply the need for efforts to strengthen the democratization of access to ICT infrastructure in order to promote the growth of women's empowerment in the study area. Keywords: Democracy, ICT, women empowerment, catalytic effect, WAEMU.