Delta score

Abstract

This work proposes Delta score a simplified nominal measurement for digital divide of cities. It is implemented as a concatenation of alphabetical scores that represent presence percentages of Internet, PC, fixed-line telephone and cell telephone in households of cities. Data from the 2010 Mexican Census on Population and Housing are used to create and evaluate this measurement. A proof of concept shows that the proposed measurement facilitates the creation of digital divide rankings and comparisons among cities within one single country. Also, this measurement suggests being useful for rankings and comparisons among cities of two or more countries. Potential incorporation of this score in inferential statistics is also suggested. Novelty and merits of this proposal are, among others: flexibility of the measurement discrete representation, and possibility to be used in inferential statistics; therefore, its usefulness for research purposes, public policy definition and private company planning is encouraging.