This study attempts to test the causal relationship between communication and economic development and compare the magnitude of the economic contributions of mass media and telecommunications. 17 year's data from 23 countries were collected and subjected to pooled time series analysis. It is found that while both mass media and telecommuni cations contribute to economic development, telecommunications tends to contribute more and manifest its economic effect more rapidly. The finding that mass media have delayed effects somewhat revives the early notion of "empathy" in development communication. In the meantime, the immediate effect of telecommunications detected in this study justifies many countries' policies that give priority is to telecommunication investment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ashley, R., C.W.J. Granger and R. Schmalensee, July (1980) 'Advertising and Aggregate Consumption: An Analysis of Causality.' Econometrica48: 1149-1167.
2.
Bebee, E.L. and, E.J.W. Gilling (1976) 'Telecommunications and Economic Development: A Model for Planning and Policy Making.' Telecommunication Journal43(8): 537-543.
3.
Bishop, R.L., K. Sharma and R.J. Brazee (1980) 'Determinants of Newspaper Circulation: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Time Series Study in the United States, 1854-1970.' Communication Research7(1): 3-22.
4.
Blank, D.M. (1962) 'Cyclical Behavior of National Advertising.' Journal of Business35: 9-19.
5.
Cherry, C. (1977) 'The Telephone System: Creator of Mobility and Social Change.' In: I. Pool (Eds.), The Social Impact of the Telephone (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press): pp. 112-126.
6.
Cronin, F.J., E. B. Parker, E.K. Colleran, and M.A. Gold (1991) 'Telecommunications Infrastructure and Economic Growth: An Analysis of Causality.' Telecommunications Policy15(6): 529-535.
7.
Dielman, T.E. (1989) Pooled Cross-Sectional and Time Series Data Analysis (New York: Marcel, Dekker, INC .).
8.
Farace, V. (1966) 'A study of Mass Communication and National Development .' Journalism Quarterly43(2): 305-313.
9.
Farace, V. & L. Donohew (1965) 'Mass Communication in National Social Systems: A Study of 43 Variables in 115 Countries.' Journalism Quarterly42(1): 253-261.
10.
GAS (Autonomous Study Group) 5. (1968) Economic Studies at the National Level in the Field of Telecommunications (Geneva: International Telecommunications Union).
11.
Golding, P. (1974) 'Media Role in National Development: Critique of a Theoretical Orthodoxy.' Journal of Communication24: 39-53.
12.
Hannan M.T. and A.A. Young (1977) 'Estimation in Panel Models: Results on Pooling Cross- Sections and Time Series.' In: D. Heise (eds.) Sociological Methodology (CA .: Jossey-Bass).
13.
Hardy, A.P. (1980) 'The Role of the Telephone in Economic Development .' Telecommunications Policy4(4): 278-286.
14.
Hagen, E. (1962) On the Theory of Social Change ( Homewood, ILL: Dorsey Press).
15.
Hudson, H.E. (1981) Three Case Studies on the Benefits of Telecommunications in Socio-Economic Development: The Cook Islands Interisland Radio System, the University of the South Pacific Satellite Network, Satellite-delivered Telecommunications Services in Alaska (Geneva: International Telecommunications Union).
16.
Hudson, H.E. (1984) When Telephone Reaches the Village: The Role of Telecommunications in Rural Development (Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Corporation).
17.
Hudson, H.E., A.P. Hardy, and E.B. Parker (1982) 'Impact of Telephone and Satellite Earth Station Installations on GDP.' Telecommunications Policy6(4): 300-307.
18.
Hudson, H.E., D. Goldschmidt, E.B. Parker, and A.P. Hardy (1979) The Role of Telecommunications in Socio-economic Development: A Review of the Literature with Guidelines for Further Investigation (Geneva: International Telecommunications Union).
19.
Inkeles, A. and D.H. Smith (1974) Becoming Modern: Individual Change in Six Developing Countries (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press).
20.
Itu. (1984) The Missing Link (Geneva: International Telecommunications Union).
21.
Itu. (1985) Yearbook of Common Carrier Telecommunication Statistics, 1974-1983 (Geneva : International Telecommunications Union).
22.
Itu. (1993) Yearbook of Common Carrier Telecommunication Statistics, 1982-1991 (Geneva : International Telecommunications Union).
23.
Jacob, R. and F.M. Nicosia (1981) 'Advertising and Public Policy: The Macroeconomic Effects of Advertising.' Journal of Marketing Research18: 29-38.
24.
Jung, C. and B.L. Seldon (1995) The Macroeconomic Relationship Between Advertising and Consumption.' Southern Economic Journal61: 577-587.
25.
Kudriavtzev, G.G., and L.E. Varakin (1990) Economic Aspects of Telephone Network Development: The USSR Plan.' Telecommunications Policy14(1): 7-14.
26.
Lerner, D. (1958) The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East (Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press).
27.
Marsh, D. (1976) 'Telecommunications as a Factor in the Economic Development of a Country.' IEEE Transactions on Communications24: 716-722.
28.
McClelland, D. (1961) The achieving society (New York : Van Nostrand).
29.
Moore, K.J., D.W. Osgood and R.E. Larzelere (1994) 'Use of Pooled Time Series in the Study of Naturally Occurring Clinical Events and Problem Behavior in a Foster Care Setting.' Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology62: 718-728.
30.
Parker, E.B. (1981) Economic and Social Benefits of the REA Telephone Loan Program (Mountainview, CA: Equatorial Communications).
31.
Pool, I. (eds.) (1977) The Social Impact of the Telephone (Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press).
32.
Porat, M.U. (1977) The Information Economy (Washington D. C.: US Department of Commerce, Office of Telecommunications ).
33.
Rogers, E.M. (1983) Diffusion of Innovation (New York: Free Press).
34.
Rogers, E.M. (1976) 'The Passing of the Dominant Paradigm: Reflections on Diffusion Research.' In: W. Schramm and D. Lemer (eds). Communication and Change: The Last Ten Years and the Next (Honolulu: The University Press of Hawaii): pp. 49-52.
35.
Rogers, E.M. and L. Svenning (1969) Modernization Among Peasants: The Impact of Communication (New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc.)
36.
Rutherford, R. (1992) Dictionary of Economics (London : Routledge).
37.
Saunders, R.J., J.J. Warford and B. Wellenius (1994) Telecommunications and Economic Development (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press).
38.
Schramm, W. (1964). Mass Media and National Development: The Role of Information in the Development Countries (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press).
39.
Shapiro, P.D. (1976) 'Telecommunications and Industrial Development .' IEEE Transactions on Communications24: 305-311.
40.
Taylor, L.D. and D. Weiserbs (1972). 'Advertising and the Aggregate Consumption Function .' American Economic Review62: 642-655.
41.
United Nations. (1976-91) Statistical Yearbook (New York: United Nations ).
42.
Verdon, W.A., C.R. McConell and T.W. Roesler (1969) Advertising Expenditures as Economic Stabilizer, 1945-1964. Quarterly Review of Economics and Business8: 7-18.
43.
Wellenius, B. (1977) 'Telecommunications in Developing Countries.' Telecommunications Policy1(4): 289-297.
44.
World Bank. (1994) World Tables (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press).
45.
Yang, C.Y. (1964) 'Variations in the Cyclical Behavior of Advertising .' Journal of Marketing28: 25-30.
