For this, the primary aim of this study was to analyze of the impact of cultural accessibility and ICT (information and communication technology) infrastructure on economic growth in Kazakhstan, employing regression models to asses a single country data from 2008 to 2022. The research focuses on two sets of variables: cultural development variables (e.g., number of theaters, museums, and others) and ICT infrastructure variables (e.g., number of fixed Internet subscribers, total costs of ICT, and others). Principal component analysis (PCA) as employed to reduce the dimensionality of the data and identify the most significant predictors for the regression models. The findings indicate that in the cultural development model (Model 1), the number of recreational parks and students are significant positive predictors of GDP per capita. In the ICT infrastructure model (Model 2), ICT costs are found to have a significant positive impact on GDP per capita. Conversely, traditional connectivity indicators, such as the number of fixed telephone lines, show a low dependence on economic growth, suggesting diminishing returns on investment in these outdated forms of ICT. These results suggest that investments in cultural and ICT infrastructure are crucial for economic development. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for quality improvements in education and strategic modernization of communication technologies.

Abdel-Aziz, A. A., Abdel-Salam, H., & El-Sayad, Z. (2016). The role of ICTs in creating the new social public place of the digital era. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 55(1), 487–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2015.12.019

Aboiron, E., & Aboiron, J. (2022). Digital Transformation as a Tool for Organizational Change and Value Creation. International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management, 3(1), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.51137/ijarbm.2022.3.1.4

Aiello, D., Fai, S., & Santagati, C. (2019). Virtual museums as a means for promotion and enhancement of cultural heritage. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 42, 33–40. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-2-w15-33-2019

Alimi, A., & Adediran, I. (2020). ICT diffusion and the finance-growth nexus: a panel analysis on ECOWAS countries. Future Business Journal, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-020-00024-x

Appiah-Otoo, I., & Song, N. (2021). The impact of ICT on economic growth comparing rich and poor countries. Telecommunications Policy, 45(2), 102082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.102082

Basten, S., & Cuaresma, J. (2014). Modelling the macroeconomic impact of future trajectories of educational development in Least Developed Countries. International Journal of Educational Development, 36, 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2013.12.003

Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., & Grimes, J. M. (2010). Using ICTs to create a culture of transparency: E-government and social media as openness and anti-corruption tools for societies. Government information quarterly, 27(3), 264–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2010.03.001

Boeren, E. (2019). Understanding Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on “quality education” from micro, meso and macro perspectives. International review of education, 65, 277–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-019-09772-7

Bilan, Y., Mishchuk, H., Samoliuk, N., & Grishnova, O. (2019). ICT and economic growth: Links and possibilities of engaging. Intellectual Economics, 13(1), 93–104. https://doi.org/10.13165/IE-19-13-1-07

Brito, S. R., do Socorro da Silva, A., da Mata, E. C., et al. (2018). An approach to evaluate large-scale ICT training interventions. Information systems frontiers, 20, 883–899. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-016-9705-3

Bureau of National Statistics. (2022). Available online: http://www.stat.gov.kz (accessed on 12 April 2024).

Chen, B., & Feng, Y. (1996). Some political determinants of economic growth: Theory and empirical implications. European Journal of Political Economy, 12(4), 609–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0176-2680(96)00019-5

Chianese, A., & Piccialli, F. (2017). SmaCH: An infrastructure for smart cultural heritage environments. International Journal of Ad Hoc Anna Ubiquitous Computing, 26(3), 185–204. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAHUC.2017.087023

Das, A., Chowdhury, M., & Seaborn, S. (2018). ICT diffusion, financial development and economic growth: new evidence from low and lower middle-income countries. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 9, 928–947. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-016-0383-7

Demir, Ö., Cengiz, O., & Nas, Ş. (2023). The Impact of Digitalization and Globalization on Income Distribution in Emerging Industrial Economies (Turkish). Abant Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. https://doi.org/10.11616/asbi.1329669

Dhaqane, M. K., & Afrah, N. A. (2016). Satisfaction of students and academic performance in Benadir university. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(24), 59–63.

Dzobelova, V., Cherkasova, O., & Fomicheva, E. (2019). Information Technologies in Education in Terms of Digital Economics. In: Proceedings of the First International Volga Region Conference on Economics, Humanities and Sports (FICEHS 2019). https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.200114.025

El-Said, O., & Aziz, H. (2021). Virtual Tours a Means to an End: An Analysis of Virtual Tours’ Role in Tourism Recovery Post COVID-19. Journal of Travel Research, 61(3), 528–548. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287521997567

Erumban, A. A., & De Jong, S. B. (2006). Cross-country differences in ICT adoption: A consequence of Culture? Journal of world business, 41(4), 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2006.08.005

Erumban, A. A., & Das, D. K. (2016). Information and communication technology and economic growth in India. Telecommunications Policy, 40(5), 412–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2015.08.006

Falch, M., & Henten, A. (2015). PPP as a Tool for Stimulating Investments in ICT Infrastructures. In: Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, 3 ed. IGI Global. pp. 633–639. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch060

Farhadi, M., Ismail, R., & Fooladi, M. (2012). Information and communication technology use and economic growth. PloS one, 7(11), e48903. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048903

Goel, R. K., & Ram, R. (1994). Research and development expenditures and economic growth: A cross-country study. Economic development and cultural change, 42(2), 403–411. https://doi.org/10.1086/452087

Griffiths, D. (2002). Economic growth: new recipes from old books? Progress in Development Studies, 2(4), 325–335. https://doi.org/10.1191/1464993402ps04

Gylfason, T. (2001). Natural resources, education, and economic development. European Economic Review, 45(4–6), 847–859. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-2921(01)00127-1

Hanelt, A., Bohnsack, R., Marz, D., & Antunes, C. (2020). A Systematic Review of the Literature on Digital Transformation: Insights and Implications for Strategy and Organizational Change. Journal of Management Studies, 58(5), 1159–1197. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12639

Hawash, R., & Lang, G. (2020). Does the digital gap matter? Estimating the impact of ICT on productivity in developing countries. Eurasian Economic Review, 10(2), 189–209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40822-019-00133-1

Hepburn, C., O’Callaghan, B., Stern, N., et al. (2020). Will COVID-19 fiscal recovery packages accelerate or retard progress on climate change? Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 36(1), S359–S381. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/graa015

Iatagan, M., & Ionita, I. (2009). Investments in education—An imperative objective for Europe. Economia seria Management, 12(2), 1454–0320.

Izmaylov, Y. (2017). Formation of theoretical fundamentals and strategy of investment-innovative economic development at macro and micro level in globalization context. Periodyk Naukowy Akademii Polonijnej, 20(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.23856/2002

Jaya Aziz, I. (2019). Economics and culture. Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, 22(1), 282–302. https://doi.org/10.21098/bemp.v22i1.1035

Jorgenson, D. W., & Vu, K. M. (2016). The ICT revolution, world economic growth, and policy issues. Telecommunications Policy, 40(5), 383–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2016.01.002

Khanani, R. S., Adugbila, E. J., Martinez, J. A., & Pfeffer, K. (2021). The impact of road infrastructure development projects on local communities in peri-urban areas: the case of Kisumu, Kenya and Accra, Ghana. International Journal of Community Well-Being, 4(1), 33–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-020-00077-4

Kim, J., Estrada, G., Jinjarak, Y., et al. (2022). ICT and Economic Resilience during COVID-19: Cross-Country Analysis. Sustainability, 14(22), 15109–15138. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215109

Kireyeva, A. A., Lakhonin, V., & Kalymbekova, Z. (2019). Digital Transformations to Improve the Work and Distribution of the State Scholarships Programs. Journal of Distribution Science,17(3), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.15722/JDS.17.3.201903.41

Kozma, R. B., & Vota, W. S. (2014). ICT in developing countries: Policies, implementation, and impact. In: Handbook of research on educational communications and technology. Springer New York. pp. 885–894. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_72

Krueger, A. B., & Lindahl, M. (2001). Education for growth: Why and for whom? Journal of economic literature, 39(4), 1101–1136. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.39.4.1101

Lee, S. G., Trimi, S., & Kim, C. (2013). The impact of cultural differences on technology adoption. Journal of world business, 48(1), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2012.06.003

Lee, K., Choi, S. O., Kim, J., & Jung, M. (2018). A Study on the factors affecting decrease in the government corruption and mediating effects of the development of ICT and E-Government—a cross-country analysis. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 4(3), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4030041

Lerario, A. (2021). Languages and context issues of ICTs for a new role of museums in the COVID-19 era. Heritage, 4(4), 3065–3080. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040171

Martyakova, E., & Gorchakova, E. (2019). Quality education and digitalization of the economy. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on the Industry 4.0 Model for Advanced Manufacturing: AMP 2019. Springer International Publishing. pp. 212–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18180-2_17

Midgley, J., & Tang, K. L. (2001). Introduction: Social policy, economic growth and developmental welfare. International Journal of Social Welfare, 10(4), 244–252. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2397.00180

Moshtari, M., & Safarpour, A. (2024). Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries. Higher Education, 87(1), 89–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-00994-1

Mihu, C., Pitic, A. G., & Bayraktar, D. (2023). Drivers of Digital Transformation and their Impact on Organizational Management. Studies in Business and Economics, 18(1), 149–170. https://doi.org/10.2478/sbe-2023-0009

Muscarà, M., & Sani, C. (2019). Accessibility to Cultural Heritage, some project outcomes. Education Sciences and Society, 1(1), 244–280. https://doi.org/10.3280/ess1-2019oa7701

Neto, C. M., & Pereira, S. (2005). Development Theory and Foundations of Universal Access Policies. ISJLP, 2, 365.

Nurbatsin, A., & Vasa, L. (2021). Influence of ICT on the Competitiveness of the Trade Sector in Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Economic and Business Studies, 62(4), 23–36. https://doi.org/10.47703/ejebs.v4i62.64

Rieder, E., Schmuck, M., & Tugui, A. (2022). A scientific perspective on using artificial intelligence in sustainable urban development. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 7(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc7010003

Rubino, M., Vitolla, F., Raimo, N., & Garcia-Sanchez, I. M. (2020). Cross-country differences in European firms’ digitalisation: The role of national culture. Management Decision, 58(8), 1563–1583. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-08-2019-1120

Samiyeva, M. (2023). Improving the processes of using modern information communication technologies in the organization of digital services. International Journal of Economics and Innovative Technologies, 66(4), 342–348. https://doi.org/10.55439/eit/vol11_iss4/a35

Sepehrdoust, H., & Ghorbanseresht, M. (2019). Impact of information and communication technology and financial development on economic growth of OPEC developing economies. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 40(3), 546–551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2018.01.008

Silva, A. G., & Olinto, G. (2016). Gender differences in ICT use and information literacy in public libraries: A study in a Rio de Janeiro public library. In: Information Literacy: Key to an Inclusive Society. ECIL 2016. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52162-6_2

Thornton, P. H., Ribeiro-Soriano, D., & Urbano, D. (2011). Socio-cultural factors and entrepreneurial activity: An overview. International small business journal, 29(2), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242610391930

Turkebayeva, K., Bekturganova, M., Sabden, O., et al. (2022). Assessment of the relationship between inequality, income and economic growth in the regions of Kazakhstan. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(2), 511–521. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(2).2022.42

Usmani, R., Saeed, A., & Tayyab, M. (2021). Role of ICT for community in education during COVID-19. In: ICT Solutions for Improving Smart Communities in Asia. IGI Global. pp. 125–150. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7114-9.CH006

Verma, A., Dandgawhal, P. S., & Giri, A. K. (2023). Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development on economic growth in developing countries. Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Science, 28(55), 27–43. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEFAS-09-2021-0185

Wennekers, S., & Thurik, R. (1999). Linking Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth. Small Business Economics, 13, 27–56. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008063200484

Yousefi, A. (2011). The impact of information and communication technology on economic growth: Evidence from developed and developing countries. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 20(6), 581–596. https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2010.544470