A Doctoral Dissertation Submitted to the Council of the College of Administration and Economics, University of Karbala, as Part of the Requirements for the Award of a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economic Sciences
By the student
Ali Jalil Muhammad Jabr
Supervised by
Asst. Prof. Dr. Sarmad Abdul-Jabbar Hedab Khairallah
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zainab Hadi Na’ma
Abstract:
This thesis provides an in-depth analytical and investigative examination of digital transformation as a rapidly accelerating economic phenomenon that has reshaped the financial sector’s infrastructure in numerous countries, particularly those transitioning toward integrated knowledge-based economies. The significance of this study lies in its endeavor to link global digital transformations to the structural challenges faced by the Iraqi economy through a meticulous analysis of regional and international case studies, while exploring the feasibility of implementing successful digital transformation models within the Iraqi context.
The study demonstrates that digital transformation is not merely a technical modernization process but a comprehensive structural shift that redefines the logic of economic growth. Information and data have now superseded physical capital and natural resources as the most valuable production assets. The researcher adopted a hybrid methodology combining descriptive-analytical and econometric approaches to examine the relationship between variables of digital transformation and indicators of financial performance and economic growth in a selected sample of ESCWA member states, with a primary focus on Iraq.
The thesis highlights multiple forms of digital divides, such as knowledge and technological gaps, which exacerbate disparities between advanced and developing economies. In analyzing Iraq’s case, it reveals that the absence of a digital strategy, weak investment in informational infrastructure, and the hesitancy of monetary and fiscal policies to embrace the digital economy have collectively hindered Iraq’s ability to keep pace with the global digital wave—despite its promising human and institutional potential.
The study expands its analysis to digital indicators such as internet and mobile phone penetration rates, computer usage levels, accessibility of digital financial services, and the long-term econometric modeling (2004–2023) of digitization’s contribution to GDP. It also compares Iraq’s experience with digital transformation to that of Gulf and East Asian countries, identifying contrasts and intersections in outcomes and lessons learned.
In conclusion, this thesis represents a qualitative contribution to Arab digital economy literature by presenting a theoretical and applied framework. This framework can inform public policy formulation and the development of effective digital transformation strategies to enhance the financial sector’s efficiency and elevate Iraq’s position within the global knowledge- and innovation-driven economy.
