The Development Of Digital Infrastructure Under The Challenges Of Unemployment And Output Structure Imbalance In Iraq After 2004

Abstract

The development of digital infrastructure has become a necessity, not a luxury option to be manipulated in the Iraqi economy. International organizations have urged its adoption as a means to improve the efficiency of local markets and enhance their sustainable performance. The research problem lies in the lack of a unified vision among all components of the Iraqi economic entity, coupled with a firm conviction in the need for digital transformation, alongside high levels of technological illiteracy among the population. The research focuses on identifying a set of indicators related to digital infrastructure and determining whether Iraq has made tangible and positive strides in this area that would enable it to address unemployment and the imbalance in the output structure. The research posits that improving the digital environment will reduce unemployment rates and enhance the interconnectedness of economic sectors, thereby strengthening sustainable economic performance. The research relied on a selection of indicators of digital infrastructure, in addition to the unemployment rate and indicators of output imbalance. It confirmed its hypothesis: despite the relative improvement in digital infrastructure indicators, Iraq still faces high unemployment rates and persistent imbalances in its output structure. Therefore, it recommends the importance of monitoring the development of these indicators in the coming period to address unemployment rates and structural imbalances in output.