ICT as general purpose technologies: a micro-econometric investigation on Italian firms Online publication date: Tue, 30-Sep-2014
by Concetta Castiglione; Davide Infante
International Journal of Trade and Global Markets (IJTGM), Vol. 6, No. 3, 2013
Abstract: The impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) is analysed under the hypothesis that a greater use of ICT may help firms to increase their efficiency. ICTs are considered as General Purpose Technologies (GPTs), i.e. drastic technological innovations that are characterised by pervasiveness, technological dynamism, and innovative complementarities. The paper concerns a micro-econometric analysis of Italian manufacturing firms using the data of two surveys carried out by Mediocredito Centrale-Capitalia. The impact of ICTs on Italian firms' TFP is analysed under the assumption that ICTs positively influence the TFP directly through investments, and indirectly through the new composition of inputs required by ICTs to fully exploit their benefits. Estimated results confirm that either ICT investments or the complementary factors have a positive influence on firm's TFP. It is also found that firms that invest in ICT are able to reach higher level of efficiency than firms that do not.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets (IJTGM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook