Does government digitization contribute to economic growth? Empirical evidence from 109 countries
基于109个国家2002-2021年的面板数据，研究发现政府数字化通过抑制腐败和缩短企业获取公共服务的时间来促进经济增长，且该效应随经济发展水平先升后降。
In the digital age, governments worldwide are increasingly turning to digitization to enhance efficiency and foster economic growth. This study investigates the impact of government digitization on economic growth, addressing the pressing issue of how digital transformations within the public sector can drive economic growth. First, we empirically estimate panel data from 2002 to 2021 across 109 countries using multiple statistical methods, consistently supporting that government digitization can significantly promote economic growth. Subsequently, mechanism tests are conducted using two fixed effect models containing interaction terms, revealing that government digitization can foster economic growth by curbing corruption and reducing the time businesses need to access public services. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis confirms the moderating effects of telecommunications infrastructure, basic education popularization, natural resource abundance, government efficiency, democracy, and ruling party ideology on the relationship between government digitization and economic growth. Lastly, quantile regression reveals a nuanced pattern, indicating that as a country’s economic development level increases, the promoting effect of government digitization on economic growth initially rises before declining. These findings provide new insights for governments worldwide seeking economic growth.