Telecommunications and economic development – The 20th century: The building of an evidence base

The literature on the relation between telecommunications and economic development published during the 20th century has been reviewed. It all began in 1963 with the publication of the Jipp curve. Over the twenty years that followed, there was hardly any noteworthy, at least academic, contribution. Already in the eighties, the debate was still focused towards the role of telecommunications in the integration of developing countries into the world economy. In the last decade of the century, subsequent research broadened the scope –the lack of an adequate telecommunication infrastructure is a serious drawback for any country–, and also made a qualitative and quantitative jump forward. •Literature review (papers published in the 20th century) on the relation between telecommunication and economic development.•It all began in 1963 with the publication of the Jipp curve.•Initially, the debate was focused towards the role of telecommunications in the integration of developing countries.•During the 1990s, research became more methodologically sound and empirically ground.•At the turn of the century, the relation was acknowledged; in terms of scientific proof, there was still a long way to go.