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This study examines whether digital transformation is associated with higher labour productivity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and whether the relationship strengthens with human capital. A fully open panel is constructed from World Development Indicators and Penn World Table 11.0 for 13 SADC economies over 2005-2023. Digitalisation is measured by the first principal component of internet use, mobile subscriptions and fixed broadband. The empirical strategy combines country fixed effects with Driscoll-Kraay covariance and a pooled dynamic common correlated effects error-correction model. Country-cluster bootstrap inference, an equal-weight digital index, sequential country deletion and threshold estimation provide robustness checks. The long-run digital coefficient is positive (0.239; 95% bootstrap interval [0.033, 0.425]), while the error-correction coefficient indicates stable annual adjustment (-0.566; interval [-0.820, -0.208]). The digitalisation-human-capital interaction is not supported (-0.041; interval [-0.102, 0.015]), and the threshold slope difference also includes zero. H2 is rejected for the aggregate PWT human-capital index, not for skills in general. The findings identify a durable average digital productivity premium without evidence that national education stocks automatically magnify it. Policy should combine reliable connectivity with targeted, use-specific capabilities and business-ecosystem coordination.

This paper tests whether government effectiveness and regulatory quality amplify the productivity return to digitalisation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). A fully unrestricted panel combines World Development Indicators, the 2025 Worldwide Governance Indicators revision and Penn World Table 11.0 for 15 economies over 2005–2023. Digitalisation is a principal-component index of internet use, mobile subscriptions and fixed broadband. Separate governance equations avoid mechanical multicollinearity. Country fixed effects with Driscoll–Kraay covariance are compared with pooled dynamic common correlated effects error-correction models. Digitalisation has a positive short-run association in the government-effectiveness equation (0.056; 95% country-cluster interval: 0.008–0.155), while regulatory quality has a positive direct short-run coefficient (0.208; 0.064–0.309). Neither governance measure positively magnifies digital returns. Long-run interaction intervals include zero; the regulatory-quality short-run interaction is negative (−0.069; −0.123 to −0.004), and threshold slope differences are unsupported. Error correction is stable in both equations, and country deletion preserves positive digital coefficients. Institutions remain important direct capabilities, but broad governance scores should not be presumed automatic digital multipliers. Policy should connect specific regulatory and implementation reforms to identifiable adoption constraints rather than relying on general institutional upgrading alone.

This study examines the relationship between digital globalization and educational access in Africa. It uses publicly available secondary data from the World Development Indicators (WDI) ICT database and UNESCO education statistics. While digital transformation is widely promoted as a catalyst for inclusive human capital development, cross-country heterogeneity in Africa raises questions about whether digital expansion uniformly enhances educational access. Employing panel quantile regression for a balanced panel of African countries over the period 2005–2023, the paper investigates how ICT penetration, trade openness, and digital infrastructure affect educational participation across different points of the distribution of access indicators. The findings indicate that digital globalization exerts heterogeneous effects: countries at lower quantiles of educational access benefit more strongly from increases in internet penetration and mobile connectivity, whereas upper-quantile countries exhibit diminishing marginal returns. Institutional quality and governance metrics serve to moderate these observed relationships. The findings contribute to the existing body of research concerning the digital divide, globalization, and educational inequality, specifically by illustrating that digital transformation mitigates disparities, particularly in contexts where fundamental access limitations persist. Consequently, the policy implications emphasize the need for infrastructure expansion, regulatory adjustments, and targeted digital inclusion initiatives, all of which should be congruent with the African Union Digital Education Strategy.

Digital platforms are reshaping the landscape for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Africa, offering innovative solutions to challenges in market access, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency. This study provides a comparative analysis of the role of digital platforms in supporting SME growth in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, three of the continent’s most digitally active economies. Drawing on secondary data from reputable sources, the research examines how mobile technologies, e-commerce, and fintech platforms influence SME outcomes in revenue, employment, and access to finance. The study further explores the enabling and constraining ecosystem conditions, such as digital infrastructure, literacy, and regulatory environments, that mediate platform effectiveness. The study shows that while all three countries exhibit measurable gains from platform adoption, the scale and sustainability of impact vary widely. Kenya shows significant advancement due to mobile-first innovation and proactive regulation. Nigeria demonstrates rapid but uneven progress shaped by informality and infrastructure gaps. South Africa benefits from advanced digital systems, yet faces persistent inclusion challenges in underserved communities. The study concludes with actionable policy recommendations to improve digital access, build inclusive ecosystems, and align national efforts with regional initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy