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New insights from a multilevel approach to the regional digital divide in the European Union

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  • Szeles, Monica Răileanu

Abstract

This paper contributes to the literature on digital divide by analysing regional- and country level determinants of the regional digital divide in the EU, based on panel data and using the multilevel analysis- the three level random slope model. The results indicate that only a mix of effective regional and national measures could mitigate the regional digital divide in the EU. Stimulating regional economic growth, increasing the tertiary education attainments, boosting R&D expenditure, and discouraging early leaving from education are regional- and national level policy measures that are found to successfully reduce the regional digital divide in the EU.

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  • Szeles, Monica Răileanu, 2018. "New insights from a multilevel approach to the regional digital divide in the European Union," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 452-463.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:42:y:2018:i:6:p:452-463
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2018.03.007
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    19. Jaković Božidar & Ćurlin Tamara & Miloloža Ivan, 2021. "Enterprise Digital Divide: Website e-Commerce Functionalities among European Union Enterprises," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 12(1), pages 197-215, May.
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    21. Chloé Duvivier & Claire Bussière, 2022. "The contingent nature of broadband as an engine for business startups in rural areas," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(5), pages 1329-1357, November.
    22. Yakimova, V. & Khmura, S., 2023. "Measuring digital economic gaps in the business sector of the regional economy," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 61(4), pages 70-92.
    23. Adriana Grigorescu & Oana Oprisan & Cristina Lincaru & Camelia Speranta Pirciog, 2023. "E-Banking Convergence and the Adopter’s Behavior Changing Across EU Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital divide; Internet usage; E-commerce; Economic growth; Regional;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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