IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/zbw/itse11/52191.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Understanding the digital divide: A literature survey and ways forward

Author

Listed:
  • Srinuan, Chalita
  • Bohlin, Erik

Abstract

The term digital divide was introduced in the mid-1990s and defined as the gap separating those who have access to new forms of information technology from those who do not. The digital divide remains an important public policy debate that encompasses social, economic and political issues. This paper presents a literature review and classification scheme for digital divide research. The review covers journal articles published between 2001 and 2010 in three types of journals: (1) Information technology & information systems, (2) Economics and business & management and (3) Social science. A classification of digital divide literature and a comprehensive list of references are provided. The results show that the digital divide is a multifaceted phenomenon, due to the many dimensions of determinant factors. Recent studies have included socio-economic, institutional and physiological factors in order to gain a greater understanding of the digital divide. Among other findings, they show that technological determinism is not sufficient to explain the emergence of the digital divide. Moreover, several types of technologies were investigated, both from empirical and conceptual standpoints. The Internet is the most commonly studied technology. The divide in access and usage are discussed at the global, social and democratic levels by employing a quantitative method, either a survey or data analysis, as the main method. However, there is less discussion in developing countries and at the level of the organization (i.e. SMEs, the private sector and the public sector). The qualitative research method could be seen as a complementary method to fill the gap in the current research. The choice of policies which have been recommended to the policy maker and national regulatory agency (NRA) are also presented and discussed at the end of this paper. Several initiatives made at the country and regional levels and by international organizations have also attempted to create a combined policy. This may suggest that the combined policy is the current trend among digital divide policies. Therefore, there is a need for future research to examine these determinants through the context of global, social and democratic divides. The results would provide some insight into how diverse people in different areas adopt ICTs.

Suggested Citation

  • Srinuan, Chalita & Bohlin, Erik, 2011. "Understanding the digital divide: A literature survey and ways forward," 22nd European Regional ITS Conference, Budapest 2011: Innovative ICT Applications - Emerging Regulatory, Economic and Policy Issues 52191, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:itse11:52191
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/52191/1/672623358.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Billon, Margarita & Marco, Rocio & Lera-Lopez, Fernando, 0. "Disparities in ICT adoption: A multidimensional approach to study the cross-country digital divide," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(10-11), pages 596-610, November.
    2. Oecd, 2001. "Understanding the Digital Divide," OECD Digital Economy Papers 49, OECD Publishing.
    3. Yartey, Charles Amo, 2008. "Financial development, the structure of capital markets, and the global digital divide," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 208-227, June.
    4. Flamm, Kenneth & Chaudhuri, Anindya, 0. "An analysis of the determinants of broadband access," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6-7), pages 312-326, July.
    5. Irwin Brown & Paul Licker, 2003. "Exploring Differences in Internet Adoption and Usage between Historically Advantaged and Disadvantaged Groups in South Africa," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(4), pages 6-26, October.
    6. Akhter, Syed H., 2003. "Digital divide and purchase intention: Why demographic psychology matters," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 321-327, June.
    7. Simpson, Lyn & Daws, Leonie & Pini, Barbara, 0. "Public internet access revisited," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(3-4), pages 323-337, April.
    8. Andrés, Luis & Cuberes, David & Diouf, Mame & Serebrisky, Tomás, 0. "The diffusion of the Internet: A cross-country analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(5-6), pages 323-340, June.
    9. Ricardo M. Checchi & J. J. Po-An Hsieh & Detmar W. Straub, 2003. "Public IT Policies in Less Developed Countries: A Critical Assessment of the Literature and a Reference Framework," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(4), pages 45-64, October.
    10. Fairlie, Robert W., 2005. "The effects of home computers on school enrollment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 533-547, October.
    11. Wijers, G.D.M., 2010. "Determinants of the digital divide: A study on IT development in Cambodia," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 336-341.
    12. Xia, Jun & Lu, Ting-Jie, 0. "Bridging the digital divide for rural communities: The case of China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(9-10), pages 686-696, October.
    13. Sushil K. Sharma & Jatinder N.D. Gupta, 2003. "Socio-Economic Influences of E-Commerce Adoption," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(3), pages 3-21, July.
    14. Lemuria Carter & Vishanth Weerakkody, 2008. "E-government adoption: A cultural comparison," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 473-482, September.
    15. Hanafizadeh, Mohammad Reza & Saghaei, Abbas & Hanafizadeh, Payam, 2009. "An index for cross-country analysis of ICT infrastructure and access," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 385-405, August.
    16. Quibria, M. G. & Ahmed, Shamsun N. & Tschang, Ted & Reyes-Macasaquit, Mari-Len, 2003. "Digital divide: determinants and policies with special reference to Asia," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(6), pages 811-825, January.
    17. Noh, Yong-Hwan & Yoo, Kyeongwon, 2008. "Internet, inequality and growth," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 1005-1016.
    18. Wong, Poh-Kam, 2002. "ICT production and diffusion in Asia Digital dividends or digital divide?," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 167-187, June.
    19. Meng, Qingxuan & Li, Mingzhi, 2002. "New Economy and ICT development in China," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 275-295, June.
    20. John Leslie King & Vijay Gurbaxani & Kenneth L. Kraemer & F. Warren McFarlan & K. S. Raman & C. S. Yap, 1994. "Institutional Factors in Information Technology Innovation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 5(2), pages 139-169, June.
    21. Robertson, Alastair & Soopramanien, Didier & Fildes, Robert, 2007. "A segment-based analysis of Internet service adoption among UK households," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 339-350.
    22. Savage, Scott James & Waldman, Donald M., 2009. "Ability, location and household demand for Internet bandwidth," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 166-174, March.
    23. Antonelli, Cristiano, 2003. "The digital divide: understanding the economics of new information and communication technology in the global economy," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 173-199, June.
    24. Victor Glass & Stela Stefanova, 2010. "An empirical study of broadband diffusion in rural America," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 70-85, August.
    25. Kallol Bagchi, 2005. "Factors Contributing to Global Digital Divide: Some Empirical Results," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 47-65, July.
    26. Yuguchi, Kiyotaka, 2008. "The digital divide problem: An economic interpretation of the Japanese experience," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 340-348, June.
    27. Wood, Lawrence E., 2008. "Rural broadband: The provider matters," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 326-339, June.
    28. Lai, Bruce & Brewer, Gale A., 2006. "New York City's broadband problem and the role of municipal government in promoting a private-sector solution," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 245-259.
    29. Prieger, James E. & Hu, Wei-Min, 2008. "The broadband digital divide and the nexus of race, competition, and quality," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 150-167, June.
    30. Joyojeet Pal, 2009. "If the State provided free computer literacy, would it find takers? Evidence and propositions from the Akshaya project in India," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 105-116, April.
    31. Demoussis, Michael & Giannakopoulos, Nicholas, 2006. "The dynamics of home computer ownership in Greece," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 73-86, March.
    32. James, M.J., 2002. "Low-cost information technology in developing countries : Current opportunities and emerging possibilities," Other publications TiSEM b228ae7d-304e-4939-aed8-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    33. Cava-Ferreruela, Inmaculada & Alabau-Muñoz, Antonio, 0. "Broadband policy assessment: A cross-national empirical analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(8-9), pages 445-463, September.
    34. Lentz, R. G. & Oden, Michael D., 2001. "Digital divide or digital opportunity in the Mississippi Delta region of the US," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 291-313, June.
    35. Gunasekaran, Vinoth & Harmantzis, Fotios C., 2007. "Emerging wireless technologies for developing countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 23-42.
    36. James, M.J., 2004. "Reconstructing the digital divide from the perspective of a large, poor, developing country," Other publications TiSEM e932ff51-b4df-4ca3-b6bb-d, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    37. Weiling Ke & Kwok Kee Wei, 2006. "Understanding E-government Project Management: A Positivist Case Study of Singapore," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 45-61, April.
    38. Joel I. Deichmann & Abdolreza Eshghi & Dominique Haughton & Michele Masnghetti & Selin Sayek & Heikki Topi, 2006. "Exploring Break-points and Interaction Effects Among Predictors of the International Digital Divide," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 47-71, October.
    39. Schleife, Katrin, 2010. "What really matters: Regional versus individual determinants of the digital divide in Germany," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 173-185, February.
    40. Rice, Ronald E. & Katz, James E., 2008. "Assessing new cell phone text and video services," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 455-467, August.
    41. Mariscal, Judith, 0. "Digital divide in a developing country," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(5-6), pages 409-428, June.
    42. Pedro PUGA & Gustavo CARDOSO & Rita ESPANHA & Sandro MENDONCA, 2009. "Telecommunications for the Needy: How needed are they?," Informatica Economica, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(2), pages 175-188.
    43. LaRose, Robert & Gregg, Jennifer L. & Strover, Sharon & Straubhaar, Joseph & Carpenter, Serena, 0. "Closing the rural broadband gap: Promoting adoption of the Internet in rural America," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6-7), pages 359-373, July.
    44. Orviska, Marta & Hudson, John, 2009. "Dividing or uniting Europe? Internet usage in the EU," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 279-290, November.
    45. Wareham, Jonathan & Levy, Armando & Shi, Wei, 0. "Wireless diffusion and mobile computing: implications for the digital divide," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(5-6), pages 439-457, June.
    46. Goldfarb, Avi & Prince, Jeff, 2008. "Internet adoption and usage patterns are different: Implications for the digital divide," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 2-15, March.
    47. Barrantes, Roxana & Galperin, Hernan, 2008. "Can the poor afford mobile telephony? Evidence from Latin America," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 521-530, September.
    48. Jamshed J. Mistry, 2005. "A Conceptual Framework for the Role of Government in Bridging the Digital Divide," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 28-46, July.
    49. Hitt, Lorin & Tambe, Prasanna, 2007. "Broadband adoption and content consumption," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(3-4), pages 362-378, October.
    50. Warren, Martyn, 0. "The digital vicious cycle: Links between social disadvantage and digital exclusion in rural areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6-7), pages 374-388, July.
    51. Heath, Julia A., 2001. "Human Capital Investment: An International Comparison: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD, Paris, 1998, pp. 113, Price $25.00 ," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 93-94, February.
    52. Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Banji & Lal, Kaushalesh, 2005. "Internet diffusion in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-country analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 507-527, August.
    53. Chaudhuri, Anindya & Flamm, Kenneth S. & Horrigan, John, 0. "An analysis of the determinants of internet access," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9-10), pages 731-755, October.
    54. James, M.J., 2003. "Sustainable internet access for the rural poor? Elements of an emerging Indian model," Other publications TiSEM 8ef7a517-434c-460d-be5e-a, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    55. Rice, Ronald E. & Katz, James E., 0. "Comparing internet and mobile phone usage: digital divides of usage, adoption, and dropouts," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(8-9), pages 597-623, September.
    56. Alfonso AVILA, 2009. "Underdeveloped ICT areas in Sub-Saharan Africa," Informatica Economica, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(2), pages 136-146.
    57. Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou, 2004. "Inter-Country Analysis of Electronic Commerce Adoption in South Eastern Europe: Policy Recommendations for the Region," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(2), pages 54-69, April.
    58. Jayakar, Krishna P. & Sawhney, Harmeet, 0. "Universal service: beyond established practice to possibility space," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(3-4), pages 339-357, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Binsfeld, Nico & Whalley, Jason & Pugalis, Lee, 2016. "Competing against yourself: State duopoly in the Luxembourg telecommunications industry," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(8), pages 791-803.
    2. Isaiah Olurinola & Romanus Osabohien & Bosede Ngozi Adeleye & Ifeoluwa Ogunrinola & Jacob Isaac Omosimua & Tyrone De Alwis, 2021. "Digitalization and Innovation in Nigerian Firms," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 11(3), pages 263-277, March.
    3. Chen,Rong - DECIG, 2021. "A Demand-Side View of Mobile Internet Adoption in the Global South," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9590, The World Bank.
    4. Ciesielska, Magdalena & Rizun, Nina & Chabik, Jakub, 2022. "Assessment of E-government inclusion policies toward seniors: A framework and case study," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7).
    5. Forenbacher, Ivan & Husnjak, Siniša & Cvitić, Ivan & Jovović, Ivan, 2019. "Determinants of mobile phone ownership in Nigeria," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1-1.
    6. Barrutia, Jose M. & Echebarria, Carmen, 2021. "Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on public managers’ attitudes toward digital transformation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Ángel Valarezo & Rafael López & Teodosio Pérez-Amaral, 2019. "Adoption of e-commerce by individuals and digital divide: Evidence from Spain," Documentos de Trabajo del ICAE 2019-19, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Instituto Complutense de Análisis Económico.
    8. Vainieri, Milena & Vandelli, Andrea & Benvenuti, Stefano Casini & Bertarelli, Gaia, 2023. "Tracking the digital health gap in elderly: A study in Italian remote areas," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    9. Mendonça, Sandro & Crespo, Nuno & Simões, Nadia, 2015. "Inequality in the network society: An integrated approach to ICT access, basic skills, and complex capabilities," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 192-207.
    10. Pérez-Amaral, Teodosio & Valarezo, Angel & López, Rafael & Garín-Muñoz, Teresa, 2021. "Digital divides across consumers of internet services in Spain using panel data 2007–2019. Narrowing or not?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(2).
    11. Rahman, Md Mahabubur & Ara, Tasnim & Chakma, Rio, 2022. "Explaining geospatial variation in mobile phone ownership among rural women of Bangladesh: A multi-level and multidimensional approach," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    12. Berde Éva & Kuncz Izabella, 2019. "Active Ageing Index, New Emphasis Within the Same Methodology. The Role of the Internet," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 29(4), pages 1-20, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. M Vimalkumar & Jang Bahadur Singh & Sujeet Kumar Sharma, 0. "Exploring the Multi-Level Digital Divide in Mobile Phone Adoption: A Comparison of Developing Nations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    2. M Vimalkumar & Jang Bahadur Singh & Sujeet Kumar Sharma, 2021. "Exploring the Multi-Level Digital Divide in Mobile Phone Adoption: A Comparison of Developing Nations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1057-1076, August.
    3. Neokosmidis, Ioannis & Avaritsiotis, Nikolaos & Ventoura, Zoe & Varoutas, Dimitris, 2015. "Assessment of the gap and (non-)Internet users evolution based on population biology dynamics," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 14-37.
    4. Omorobi Garieth Omorobi & Eton Idorenyin Clement & Chuktu Onyinye, 2021. "Digital Divide and Online Instruction Delivery Readiness Among Nigerian Universities in an Era of COVID-19," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 7(4), pages 177-186, 12-2021.
    5. Bera, Subhasis, 2019. "Club convergence and drivers of digitalization across Indian states," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(8), pages 1-1.
    6. Srinuan, Chalita & Bohlin, Erik, 2013. "Analysis of fixed broadband access and use in Thailand: Drivers and barriers," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 615-625.
    7. 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.
    8. Ciesielska, Magdalena & Rizun, Nina & Chabik, Jakub, 2022. "Assessment of E-government inclusion policies toward seniors: A framework and case study," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7).
    9. 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.
    10. Silva, Simone & Badasyan, Narine & Busby, Michael, 2018. "Diversity and digital divide: Using the National Broadband Map to identify the non-adopters of broadband," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 361-373.
    11. Ventura, Eva & Satorra, Albert, 2015. "A multiple indicator model for panel data: an application to ICT area-level variation," 26th European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2015 127191, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Thai, Do Manh & Falch, Morten, 2018. "Universal service in Vietnam: An institutional approach," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 323-332.
    16. Mona Badran, 2014. "Young people and the digital divide in Egypt: an empirical study," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 4(2), pages 223-250, December.
    17. Grazzi, Matteo & Vergara, Sebastián, 2012. "ICT in developing countries: Are language barriers relevant? Evidence from Paraguay," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 161-171.
    18. Forenbacher, Ivan & Husnjak, Siniša & Cvitić, Ivan & Jovović, Ivan, 2019. "Determinants of mobile phone ownership in Nigeria," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1-1.
    19. Turk, Tomaž & Trkman, Peter, 2012. "Bass model estimates for broadband diffusion in European countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 79(1), pages 85-96.
    20. Ventura, Eva & Satorra, Albert, 2015. "A multiple indicator model for panel data: An application to ICT area-level variation," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 830-847.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital divide; Literature review; Future research;
    All these keywords.

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:zbw:itse11:52191. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.itseurope.org/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.