Measuring the indirect effect of the Internet on the relationship between human capital and labor productivity

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to lift data availability constraints, this paper investigates into the third level digital divide in 65 developing countries for the period 2000–2014, by studying the existence of a mediating impact of Internet use on the relationship between human capital and total labor productivity, and labor productivity by sector. Results of our mediation models with fixed effects panel regressions and Bootstrapping revealed an Internet use mediation effect of 24.20% on the total effect of human capital on total labor productivity, 27% on labor productivity in services and 23% in industry. Mediation was found to be inconsistent in agriculture.

KEYWORDS:

• Third level digital divide
• mediation
• labor productivity
• sectoral employment
• Internet outcomes

JEL CLASSIFICATION:

• O33
• C33
• O47.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).