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Social Learning and Digital Divides: A Case Study of Internet Technology Diffusion

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  • Meng‐chun Liu
  • Gee San

Abstract

The past few decades have witnessed a widening of the digital divide among countries in the world. Bridging this global digital divide has now become an important development policy of many governments in the developing world. Differing from previous studies that look at the Internet's popularity, this paper focuses on the speed of diffusion of such technologies over the period from 1997 to 2002 in order to highlight its role as a critical driving force in enhancing the social learning of a country. Our empirical results show that a country with better social learning can harmonize its heterogeneous populations, promote the sharing of knowledge as a result of using such technologies, and finally speed up the rate of information technology diffusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng‐chun Liu & Gee San, 2006. "Social Learning and Digital Divides: A Case Study of Internet Technology Diffusion," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 307-321, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:kyklos:v:59:y:2006:i:2:p:307-321
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6435.2006.00329.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Amitrajeet A. Batabyal & Peter Nijkamp, 2016. "Digital technologies, knowledge spillovers, innovation policies, and economic growth in a creative region," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(5), pages 470-484, July.
    2. Thierry PENARD & Nicolas POUSSING & Gabriel ZOMO YEBE & Philémon NSI ELLA, 2012. "Comparing the Determinants of Internet and Cell Phone Use in Africa: Evidence from Gabon," Communications & Strategies, IDATE, Com&Strat dept., vol. 1(86), pages 65-83, 2nd quart.
    3. Menzie D. Chinn & Robert W. Fairlie, 2010. "ICT Use in the Developing World: An Analysis of Differences in Computer and Internet Penetration," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 153-167, February.
    4. Penard, Thierry & Poussing, Nicolas & Mukoko, Blaise & Tamokwe Piaptie, Georges Bertrand, 2015. "Internet adoption and usage patterns in Africa: Evidence from Cameroon," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 71-80.
    5. Richard Perkins & Eric Neumayer, 2011. "Is the internet really new after all?: the determinants of telecommunications diffusion in historical perspective," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 30800, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Margarita Billon & Fernando Lera-Lopez & Rocío Marco, 2010. "Differences in digitalization levels: a multivariate analysis studying the global digital divide," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 146(1), pages 39-73, April.
    7. Zhang, Xiaoqun, 2013. "Income disparity and digital divide: The Internet Consumption Model and cross-country empirical research," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 515-529.
    8. PENARD Thierry & POUSSING Nicolas & ZOMO YEBE Gabriel & NSI ELLA Philémon, 2012. "Usage d'Internet et du téléphone mobile en Afrique : une comparaison des déterminants d'adoption sur données gabonaises," LISER Working Paper Series 2012-15, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    9. She-I Chang & David C. Yen & I-Cheng Chang & Jung-Chu Chou, 2012. "Study of the digital divide evaluation model for government agencies–a Taiwanese local government’s perspective," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 693-709, July.
    10. Li, Raymond & Shiu, Alice, 2012. "Internet diffusion in China: A dynamic panel data analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 872-887.
    11. Constantin Bürgi & Nisan Gorgulu, 2022. "The Impact of the Spatial Population Distribution on Economic Growth: Evidence from the United States," CESifo Working Paper Series 10008, CESifo.
    12. Burgi, Constantin & Gorgulu, Nisan, 2021. "The Impact of the Spatial Population Distribution on Economic Growth," Working Papers 17-2021, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.
    13. Gao, Yanyan & Zang, Leizhen & Sun, Jun, 2018. "Does computer penetration increase farmers’ income? An empirical study from China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 345-360.

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