Measuring the global digital divide at the level of individuals
James,M.J.
James,M.J.
Abstract
According to the conventional measure, the digital divide assigns the same weight to each country regardless of its population size. In this note, by contrast, the divide is conceptualized at the level of individuals as the absolute number of internet users and mobile phone subscribers in developed as against developing countries. On this basis I find that the conventional gap in information technology (IT) use between these countries either shrinks dramatically or is actually reversed. The role of China in these new results is heavily emphasized. The goal of policy should be to provide access to the vast number of individuals who still have no access to IT, even when the digital divide is closed.
Description
Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Citation
James, M J 2009, 'Measuring the global digital divide at the level of individuals', Current Science, vol. 96, no. 2, pp. 194-196.
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess