A message submitted by

 Mohammed Kazim Farhan Al-Zuwaini

To the Council of the College of Administration and Economics at the University of Karbala, as part of the requirements for obtaining a Master’s degree in Economic Sciences

Supervised 

by Professor Dr.

 Ammar Mahmood Hameed Al-Rubaie

The research focused on the digital economy, or the economy based on the use of modern information and communication technologies, as one of the outcomes of the communications and information technology revolution, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Among the areas most affected by digital transformation are those related to economic growth, education, and health. Education has become digital in entirely new forms, as has health, which has become digital, relying on the internet and modern communication methods.

The research began with the premise that the development of the digital economy has led to developments in all areas of the economy in general, and economic growth in particular. This has raised questions, including: Does the digital economy affect economic growth directly or indirectly? Does the impact of the digital economy on economic growth have positive or negative effects?

The research aims to address the concept of the digital economy and its relationship to the economy and economic growth, as well as to identify the practical paths of the digital economy in international experiences and the potential for leveraging them in Iraq.

The research is based on the hypothesis that the digital economy has a positive impact on economic growth in the countries included in the study. Drawing on pioneering experiences in this area can lead to strengthening and advancing economic growth paths in Iraq.

The research reached a set of relevant conclusions and recommendations that are consistent with the research objectives and hypothesis. The most important conclusion was the weakness of the information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure in Iraq, which reflects this weakness on the digital economy as a result of economic and political mismanagement.

The most important recommendation was to develop and disseminate digital technologies, taking into account their positive effects within the context of the shared ambition to achieve digital transformation to achieve development goals. The ICT sector should be viewed based on its impact on all economic sectors, and efforts should be made to stimulate the digital economy to increase its contribution to the global gross domestic product.