Connectivity, Infrastructure, and the New Foundations of Economic Competitiveness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/ibr.2.1.2024.1242Keywords:
Digital Connectivity, Digital Infrastructure, Economic Competitiveness, Economic Development, Productivity, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Digital infrastructure has become an important determinant of economic competitiveness in increasingly connected economies. Beyond supporting communication and information exchange, digital infrastructure functions as a strategic economic asset that influences productivity, innovation, and development opportunities. This study examines the relationship between digital infrastructure and economic competitiveness through a qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. The findings indicate that digital infrastructure contributes to competitiveness by enhancing connectivity, improving productivity, supporting technological innovation, and expanding participation in digitally enabled economic activities. The review further reveals that infrastructure quality and readiness significantly influence economic performance and competitive capability. However, disparities in infrastructure availability and connectivity continue to generate uneven development outcomes across regions and economies. The study concludes that digital infrastructure should be viewed as a form of economic capital that plays a critical role in strengthening long-term competitiveness and supporting sustainable economic development.
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