Exploring the Impacts of ICT on Dimensions of Human Development in the Caribbean: A Preliminary Analysis

For a debt-burdened, developing country that is weathering a global recession, investment in areas that provide a significantly positive social and/or economic return is particularly critical. Increased investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is currently being proposed as a means of improving developing economies, which brings the topic of ICT investment to greater significance to local and regional interests. Globally, there has already been significant research on the effect of investments in ICT in developed economies. However, there is still limited analysis regarding the effect on developing economies, such as those within the Caribbean. Furthermore, the existing research focuses on measures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and leaves room for the evaluation of the effect on other measures. The purpose of this study is to use regression analysis to determine the economic effect, if any, within the Caribbean region of prior investment in ICT and discuss any characteristics of these economies that may dampen or amplify its impact. Keywords