Digital Technology and Economic Development: The Case of the Regional Economy of Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

New technology and access to the internet has become a basic need in nearly all households across the world. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic has heightened the necessity of having access to technology as it continues to innovate and change the economic and social landscape. Having access to mobile technology has been identified as a key component in not only improving the lives of people but also aiding in the fight against poverty in especially developing countries. However, as poverty is worsened by people’s limited access to healthcare, education, market access and general isolation, not having access to mobile technology is only likely to worsen their exclusion from economic activity. As the multidimensionality of poverty is extensively researched, access to internet and mobile technology as a basic human need requires new ways of exploring and understanding this economic deprivation. Hence this study aims to investigate the relationship between poverty, access to mobile technology, unemployment and inequality using a quantitative research approach. The study region is the Gauteng province in South Africa. As research on this topic is limited, especially in developing countries, the findings of this study is unique and important in providing a deeper understanding of the complexity of poverty and how new technology can both create and limit economic development.