Globalization and the Digital Divide: The Roles of Structural Conduciveness and Global Connection in Internet Diffusion^*

Abstract

Objectives. The goal of this research is to examine the role of modernization (i.e., structural conduciveness) in the form of income, telephone price and structure, education, and political structures, and global contact in the form of world cities, trade, investment, activities of international nongovernmental organizations, and short-term exchanges of population in driving the worldwide diffusion of the Internet. Methods. We use longitudinal regression analyses (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) of change in Internet hosts for approximately 80 developing countries. Results. The analyses suggest that foreign investment, major urban agglomerations, manufacturing exports, nongovernmental organization presence, and tourism as well as democratic openness, property rights, and income predict Internet diffusion during the time period under investigation. Conclusions. We conclude that indeed both conduciveness to Internet technology as well as globalization (contact) are important factors in the diffusion of the Internet.

Determinants of agricultural extension agents’ internet competencies in Eastern Region of Ghana

“…This is mostly due to practical and economic reasons. Studies such as Xiaoming and Kay (2004) and Crenshaw and Robison (2006) have found urban population to have a significant impact on Internet diffusion.…”

Determinants of Intercountry Internet Diffusion Rates

“…Therefore, it is plausible to assume that countries in which people tend to live in cities benefit from higher penetration rates. Studies such as Kay and Xiaoming (2004) and Crenshaw and Robison (2006) have found urban population to have a significant impact on Internet diffusion.…”

“…Guillen and Suarez (2004) extend previous research by showing that regulatory, political, and sociological variables are also responsible for some of the difference in penetration rates across countries. Crenshaw and Robison (2006) analyze the main factors contributing to the change in the number of Internet hosts for approximately 80 countries from 1995 to 2000. They employ numerous measures of globalization to determine whether a country's openness has a positive impact on Internet growth.…”

Uma análise da divisão digital no Brasil através da aplicação da aprendizagem de redes bayesianas

“…No entanto, Barzilai-Nahon (2006) (BILLON et al, 2007). Assim, um maior grau de difusão das TIC é esperado em regiões com maior proporção de população urbana (CRENSHAW; ROBISON, 2006;SAN, 2006).…”

“…Da mesma forma que a classe social, o grau de instrução também demonstrou ser de grande importância na determinação das quatro variáveis dependentes analisadas, com um aumento da probabilidade de adoção para graus de instrução mais elevados, indo de acordo com o esperado por diversos estudos anteriores (CRENSHAW; ROBISON, 2006;HARGITTAI, 1999;VICENTE e LÓPEZ, 2006;Billon et al, 2007).…”