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The diffusion of digital skills across EU regions: structural drivers and polarisation dynamics

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  • Serenella Caravella
  • Valeria Cirillo
  • Francesco Crespi
  • Dario Guarascio
  • Mirko Menghini

Abstract

The digital transformation is an important driver of long-run productivity growth and, as such, it has the potential to promote a more inclusive and sustainable growth. However, digital capabilities, crucial to develop and govern new digital technologies, are unevenly distributed across European regions, increasing the risk of divergence and polarisation. By taking advantage of a set of original indicators capturing the level of digital skills in the regional workforce, this work analyses the factors shaping the process of digital skill accumulation in the EU over the period 2011–2018. Relying on transition probability matrices and dynamic random effects probit models, we provide evidence of a strong and persistent regional polarisation in the adoption and deployment of digital skills. Further, we investigate whether structural factors and European funds (European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Funds and European Social Funds) are capable of shaping the digitalisation process and favouring regional convergence.

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  • Serenella Caravella & Valeria Cirillo & Francesco Crespi & Dario Guarascio & Mirko Menghini, 2023. "The diffusion of digital skills across EU regions: structural drivers and polarisation dynamics," Regional Studies, Regional Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 820-844, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsrsxx:v:10:y:2023:i:1:p:820-844
    DOI: 10.1080/21681376.2023.2265498
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    JEL classification:

    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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