Broadband Network, Governance and Inclusive Growth: New Evidence from Selected Asian and African Economies

This study examined the link between broadband networks, governance, and inclusive growth in Africa and Asia.The motivation arises from the unequal distribution of high-speed broadband in many low-income countries, which risks widening income inequality and increasing poverty.Using panel least squares estimation for 20 countries from 1996 to 2022, we investigated how broadband penetration and governance influence inclusive growth outcomes.The findings show that inclusive growth is positively affected by broadband access, governance, and trade, while population growth has a negative impact.Specifically, a 1% rise in broadband provision boosts inclusive growth by 0.089% in Africa and 0.044% in Asia.However, governance quality shows contrasting effects: in Africa, weak institutional frameworks negatively impact inclusive growth, whereas in Asia, stronger institutional structures make governance a positive factor.Overall, the study concludes that expanding broadband supports inclusive growth in both regions, with a more significant effect in Africa.These results imply that governments should prioritize not only developing broadband infrastructure but also enhancing institutional quality.Effective, transparent, and corruptionfree governance is vital for ensuring that broadband investments lead to sustainable and inclusive growth outcomes across Africa and Asia.