Causes and Trends of the Digital Divide
European Sociological Review, 21 (4):
409-422 (September 2005)Abstract
In modern societies, the digital divide indicates the emergence of
a new form of social inequality. To analyse this concept we study
causes of private computer & Internet access with a three-fold model
including human capital, family context & social context. The 1997,
2001, & 2003 German Socio-Economic Panel waves contain data on private
computer & Internet use, as well as information on past & present
socio-economic circumstances. In 2003, membership of technical generations
& ethnic background to a large extent determined the use of new technologies.
By illustrating the importance of human capital & family context
we are able to explain additional differences found for computer
& Internet use. Effects of income, gender, & living in a single household
are significant. Our study shows that some of the long-term consequences
of the 40-year German separation are diminishing with regard to computer
use. We demonstrate that human & social capital are more important
than economic capital in explaining private computer & Internet use.
Indications for higher social classes to secure or even increase
their favourable social positions exist. 3 Tables, 1 Figure, 67 References.
Adapted from the source document.
Description
Recherche inclusion
Links and resources
Tags
community
@communautique's tags highlighted