The impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on economic growth and productivity, and the role of Government Policy

The statement of National Research Priorty Area 3 makes the claim that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is currently the critical enabling technology and is a major contributor to national productivity and growth". This research aims to advance understanding of the impact of law and policy on the adoption of (ICT) and as a result on national productivity and growth. In doing this the study will control for the reverse causality between the level of output/income and ICT adoption, and increasing returns from computer networks on the internet. The study involves advanced empirical analysis of a unique data set including Australia and 17 OECD countries for the period 1980 to 2003