The role of green ICT, digital financial inclusion, and smart urbanization in sustainable development

This research examines the interrelationships between green ICT, smart urbanization, digital financial inclusion, and sustainable development in an era shaped by rapid technological advancement and the pressing need for sustainability. A growing body of empirical studies has investigated various determinants of sustainable development, but there is limited effort to investigate the effect of green ICT, smart urbanization, and digital financial inclusion on sustainable development by employing the system-GMM method. The primary outcomes of the analysis signify that green ICT causes sustainable development to rise. Likewise, digital financial inclusion also plays a positive role in boosting sustainable development. However, the significance of smart urbanization in promoting sustainable development has not been proven. Besides, human capital, research and development spending, trade, financial globalization, and renewable energy consumption are important contributors to sustainable development. These findings imply that policymakers should develop an integrated policy primarily focusing on green ICT, smart urbanization, and digital financial inclusion to achieve sustainable development.