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L’utilisation des technologies de l’information et sa contribution à la croissance en Australie

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  • Simon, John

    (Reserve Bank of Australia)

  • Wright, Sharon

    (Reserve Bank of Australia)

Abstract

This paper investigates the gains from the use of information technology in Australia during the 1990s using a growth accounting framework. We make use of new industry-level estimates of the productive capital stock. Our analysis suggests that Australia has done well out of the “new economy”. Its use of computer technology is amongst the highest in the world with Australian business investment in computer and related equipment growing rapidly since the early 1990s. Computer use has not been uniform throughout the economy but concentrated in more service-oriented sectors such as telecommunications, and finance and insurance. Additionally, we find that around one-half of the gains from the use of information technology can be attributed to price falls while the other half can be attributed to higher nominal expenditure. We arrive at the conclusion that Australia has experienced significant output growth related to computer use and has benefited from the technological advances in the sector through lower prices passed on to users. Thus, we conclude that there are substantial benefits to be gained from being a net user of computers as well as the more commonly mentioned benefits from being a producer. La présente étude a pour but d’évaluer, dans le cadre de la comptabilité de la croissance, les gains de croissance réalisés en Australie au cours des années quatre-vingt-dix grâce à l’utilisation des technologies de l’information. Elle se fonde sur de nouvelles estimations du stock de capital productif calculées au niveau de la branche d’activité. Notre analyse laisse entendre que l’Australie a su profiter de la « nouvelle économie ». Le niveau d’utilisation des technologies informatiques y est parmi les plus élevés du monde, et l’investissement des entreprises australiennes dans les ordinateurs et le matériel connexe augmente rapidement depuis le début des années quatre-vingt-dix. Plutôt que d’être répartie uniformément entre les divers secteurs de l’économie, l’utilisation des ordinateurs est concentrée dans ceux axés sur les services, comme les télécommunications ou les intermédiaires financiers et les assurances. En outre, la moitié environ des gains dus à l’utilisation des technologies de l’information est attribuable à la baisse des prix, tandis que l’autre moitié peut être due à l’augmentation des dépenses nominales. Nous concluons que, grâce à l’utilisation des ordinateurs, l’Australie a vu croître considérablement sa production et qu’elle a bénéficié des progrès techniques réalisés dans ce secteur par la voie de la réduction des prix transmise aux utilisateurs. Donc, être un utilisateur net d’ordinateurs offre des avantages considérables, outre ceux liés au fait d’être un producteur mentionnés plus couramment.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon, John & Wright, Sharon, 2005. "L’utilisation des technologies de l’information et sa contribution à la croissance en Australie," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 81(1), pages 165-202, Mars-Juin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:actuec:v:81:y:2005:i:1:p:165-202
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