Study Of Informationization And Economic Growth In Metropolitan Area Of Guangzhou

Since the middle of the 20th century, the new technological revolution with the core of information and communication technology (ICT) has led to a comprehensive social change. If the economic growth is compared to a fast-moving chariot, then the informationization is like a powerful engine on the chariot, driving Guangzhou metropolitan area from an industrial society to an information one. However, with the deepening of "Digital Guangzhou", the digital divide effect in this region has become increasingly highlighted, which brings enormous pressure and critical challenges to the sustainable economic growth of Guangzhou metropolitan area.Combined with the specific circumstances in the metropolitan area of Guangzhou from 1995 to 2009, this paper comprehensively analyzes the relationship between information technology development and economic growth. Based on the current theories, this paper firstly establishes a set of index system which is suitable for Guangzhou metropolitan area to accurately measure the development of information level in this region. Then it uses Cobb-Douglas production function to analyze the contribution of information technology development to economic growth, and on this basis to further explore the mechanism by which informationization can promote the economic growth of Guangzhou metropolitan area. In addition, this paper also makes a deep analysis on urban-rural digital divide effect and its impact on sustainable economic growth.The result shows that the development of information technology can significantly boost economic growth in Guangzhou metropolitan area, and the contribution rate of information technology development to economic growth is as high as 0.18. Informationization has promoted economic growth of Guangzhou metropolitan area from four aspects:strengthening interregional links, changing economic operation model, upgrading economic structure and optimizing economic development environment. The urban-rural digital divide composite index of Guangzhou metropolitan area declined from 0.708 in 2002 to 0.339 in 2009. Nevertheless, significant urban-rural digital divide effect has been a great threat to sustainable economic growth in this region.