Technology-Led Growth in Transition Economies: Telecommunications, Government Expenditure and R&D in Post-Soviet Countries
19th IEEE International Conference on Application of Information and Communication Technologies, AICT 2025, Al Ain, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri, 29 - 31 Ekim 2025, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Doi Numarası: 10.1109/aict67988.2025.11268783
- Basıldığı Şehir: Al Ain
- Basıldığı Ülke: Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri
- Anahtar Kelimeler: economic growth, fixed telephone subscriptions, government expenditure, Mobile cellular subscriptions, R&D
- Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır
Özet
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, post-Soviet countries have adopted different strategies to stimulate economic growth in the midst of changing political and institutional environments. Key drivers of growth during this transition period include public sector spending, innovation capacity and telecommunications infrastructure. This study examines the long-run effects of general government expenditure, research and development investment, and access to telecommunications — proxied by mobile cellular and fixed telephone subscriptions — on economic growth in thirteen post-Soviet countries: Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Russia, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—over the period 2003–2022. Due to data limitations, Georgia and Turkmenistan were excluded from the sample. Cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity were confirmed, and second-generation panel unit root and cointegration tests were applied. Findings from DOLSMG, FMOLS, Random Effects and Fixed Effects estimations indicate that all three variables exert a statistically significant and positive influence on economic growth. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at enhancing sustainable growth through increased public investment, innovation, and digital infrastructure.