A New Intellectual Approach to Assessing the Quality of Roads in Ethiopia

This study examines Ethiopia’s road quality in general and digital development in particular, with an emphasis on how infrastructure development and digital logistics are integrated into the agriculture industry. Although the quality of roads and other transportation and logistics infrastructures is crucial for the nation's overall growth, little is known about their many aspects in the context of Ethiopia. Similarly, while digital technologies are reshaping supply chains globally, their implementation in low-income, agriculture-dependent economies remains underexplored. To address these gaps, the research employs descriptive analysis to examine the quality of roads across various dimensions. The study also utilizes principal component analysis to construct a digital development index and uses ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation of a linear regression model to identify its key determinants. The results show that roads, railroads, and ports are undeveloped because their quality falls short of the global standard. At the same time, air travel is a strategic and exceptional mode of transportation compared to other modes of transportation. The findings further indicate that access to electricity, mobile cellular subscriptions, and trade in ICT goods have a positive influence on digital progress, while fixed telephone usage and reliance on renewable energy act as constraints. Empirical evidence also suggests that the agricultural sector in Ethiopia is gradually adopting digital tools, including e-marketing, advisory platforms, and mobile finance services. However, gaps in infrastructure and institutional coordination continue to hinder large-scale implementation. The study contributes a dual-layered perspective that integrates quantitative modeling with contextual analysis, offering policy-relevant insights into digital transformation strategies and infrastructure development for emerging economies.