The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Life Expectancy in the Middle East

Extended Abstract

Background

Life expectancy is an important health status indicator based on the average number of years a person at a given age may be expected to live, given current mortality rates. Given this significance, it would be necessary to probe into the factors affecting life expectancy. Ensuring appropriate use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services could contribute to development and achievement, as it represents an important issue for the countries moving toward knowledge-based and information-based societies. As ICT affects everyday lives, it also impacts the macroeconomic growth, which in turn further affects everyday lives by allowing improvements in infrastructures and a higher standard of living. ICT inherently entails the economic development of countries, regions, and cities, while also improving social inclusion, well-being and therefore quality of life. This study explored the impact of ICT on life expectancy.

Methods

This study covers annual data from 2008 to 2018 for several Middle Eastern countries. Data were retrieved from the annual reports of World Bank and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data sets. The effects of ICT on life expectancy were estimated using the Panel model. First, stationary tests and the Fisher’s generalized unit root test were performed. In the Fisher test for panel data, the null hypothesis of a unit root was rejected at the 5% level of significance. The cross-section correlation test was performed with the Freeze test. The null hypothesis of no correlation was rejected at the 5% level of significance. We also used the Hausman test to investigate fixed versus random effects. The null hypothesis of no fixed effects was accepted so the random effects model was used. The Hausman test detected endogenous regressors in a regression model. Endogenous variables have values that are determined by other variables in the system. The data were analyzed by Stata version 14 software.

Results

The findings of this study confirm the significant impact of ICT on life expectancy in the Middle East. The regression coefficient was 0.551 indicating that each change in life expectancy increased the information technology variable by one unit. The coefficient of ICT shows that a 1% increase in the ICT variable changed life expectancy by 0.551% which is significant at a 5% level of significance. We also found that all control variables had the expected statistically significant effects on life expectancy. The intra-cluster correlation coefficient (rho) is a measure of the relatedness, or similarity, of clustered data. Values of rho range from 0 to 1 in human studies, and as the rho increases, more individuals within the clusters resemble one another. The rho (intraclass correlation) was found to be 0.975 showing that 97.5% of the variance is due to differences across panels. This research suggests that human development programs should prioritize policies that promote digital inclusion.

Conclusion

Considering the effect of ICT on life expectancy, policymakers of the Middle Eastern countries should incorporate ICT into the current programs and systems. A digital citizen is happy and appreciates living in regions with technological capacity, investing in research & development, and is committed to achieving sustainable growth. ICT contributes to higher evaluations of the efficiency and management of public administration by more technological users, underlining the importance of an understanding between users and public services in the virtual sphere. Technology is not an end in itself but merely an instrument to reinforce the existing system and to meet the locally determined goals. It can be used as a tool to attain broader health and development goals. The findings from this study provide key insights that explain how life expectancy may be enhanced through ICTs.
Practical Implications of Research
According to the influence of ICT on life expectancy, policymakers should provide ICT infrastructures and adopt strategies integrating ICT policies with human life criteria such as education, health, and work to improve life expectancy.
Ethical Consideration
The paper reflects the author’s own research and analysis in a truthful and complete manner.
Conflict of Interests
This study was an independent research and the author declares no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Dr Marzieh Ronaghi for her guidance and assistance throughout this research.