On the relationship between telecommunications investment and economic growth in the United States

Abstract

Using a time series of 50 years, the relationships between investment by telecommunications firms and Gross Domestic Product in the United States are examined. Granger-Sims causality tests are conducted, with proper allowance for both the non-stationarity of the data and lag length. These tests indicate that investment by telecommunications firms is caused by, but does not cause, economic activity, and the findings are robust across lag lengths. The evidence suggests that policies aimed at stimulating the US economy by accelerating investment by telecommunications firms may not be successful.