Figure 1
The conceptual path diagram is arranged from left to right with three grouped sections. On the left, a large, rounded rectangle labeled “INDEPENDENT VARIABLES” contains three stacked boxes. The top box labeled “DIGITALIZATION INDEX” lists “Internet Users”, “Broadband Subs”, “Mobile Subs”, and “Secure Servers”. Below it, a box labeled “TRADE OPENNESS” contains “Exports plus Imports divided by G D P”. The bottom box labeled “OIL DEPENDENCE” contains “Oil Rents percent G D P”. From the “DIGITALIZATION INDEX” box, a solid rightward arrow labeled “H 1, H 4” runs directly to the top right dependent variable box labeled “LABOR PRODUCTIVITY (G D P per employed)”. From “DIGITALIZATION INDEX” and “TRADE OPENNESS” boxes, a solid rightward arrow runs to the central box labeled “SMART GOVERNMENT INDEX”, which contains “Government Effectiveness”, “Regulatory Quality”, “Control of Corruption”, and “Rule of Law”. From this central box, a solid rightward arrow runs to “LABOR PRODUCTIVITY” and “ECONOMIC GROWTH”. From the “TRADE OPENNESS” box, a solid rightward arrow labeled “H 2, H 5” runs to the bottom right dependent variable box labeled “ECONOMIC GROWTH (G D P growth rate)”. From the “OIL DEPENDENCE” box, a solid rightward arrow runs to “ECONOMIC GROWTH (G D P growth rate)”. From the “SMART GOVERNMENT INDEX” box, a solid rightward arrow splits and runs to “LABOR PRODUCTIVITY” and “ECONOMIC GROWTH”. Additionally, a lower horizontal arrow labeled “H 3, H 6” runs from the independent variables section toward “ECONOMIC GROWTH”. On the right, a large rounded rectangle labeled “DEPENDENT VARIABLES” contains the two boxes “LABOR PRODUCTIVITY” and “ECONOMIC GROWTH”. At the bottom, a note reads “All relationships hypothesized to be moderated by Smart Government Index”.Conceptual framework diagram. Source(s): Authors