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Determinants of Inter-Country Internet Diffusion Rates

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  • Wunnava, Phanindra V.

    (Middlebury College)

  • Leiter, Daniel B.

    (Morgan Stanley)

Abstract

This paper employs cross-sectional data from 100 countries to analyze the main determinants of inter-country Internet diffusion rates. We set up an empirical model based on strong theoretical foundations, in which we regress Internet usage on variables that capture social, economic and political differences between these countries. Our results support past findings that economic strength, infrastructure and knowledge of the English language positively affect Internet connectivity. In addition to these indicators, the openness of a country, tertiary enrollment, and income equality are found to also have a significant positive effect on Internet diffusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Wunnava, Phanindra V. & Leiter, Daniel B., 2008. "Determinants of Inter-Country Internet Diffusion Rates," IZA Discussion Papers 3666, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3666
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wafa Sassi & Hakim Ben Othman & Khaled Hussainey, 2024. "The determinants of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) adoption: a cross-country study," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(2), pages 175-192, June.
    3. Krüger, Jens J. & Rhiel, Mathias, 2016. "Determinants of ICT infrastructure: A cross-country statistical analysis," Darmstadt Discussion Papers in Economics 228, Darmstadt University of Technology, Department of Law and Economics.
    4. P. Guerrieri & M. Luciani & V. Meliciani, 2011. "The determinants of investment in information and communication technologies," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(4), pages 387-403.
    5. Lüdering, Jochen, 2014. "The measurement of internet availability and quality in the context of the discussion on digital divide," Discussion Papers 65, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Center for international Development and Environmental Research (ZEU).
    6. V. Brian Viard & Nicholas Economides, 2015. "The Effect of Content on Global Internet Adoption and the Global “Digital Divide”," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 61(3), pages 665-687, March.
    7. Monica Răileanu Szeles & Mihaela Simionescu, 2020. "Regional Patterns and Drivers of the EU Digital Economy," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 95-119, July.
    8. Wafa Sassi & Hakim Ben Othman & Khaled Hussainey, 2023. "The determinants of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) adoption : a cross-country study," Post-Print hal-04191489, HAL.
    9. Teklemariam, Mekuria Haile & Kwon, Youngsun, 2020. "Differentiating mobile broadband policies across diffusion stages: A panel data analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(8).
    10. Nicholas Economides & V. Brian Viard, 2010. "The Effect of Content on Global Internet Adoption," Working Papers 10-19, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    11. Korkmaz, Özge & Erer, Elif & Erer, Deniz, 2022. "Internet access and its role on educational inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    12. Ph.D. Almas Heshmati & Ph.D. Firas H. Al-Hammadany, 2014. "Multinomial Logit Model of Choices of Internet Modes in Iraq," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 4(2), pages 114-135, December.
    13. Li, Raymond & Shiu, Alice, 2012. "Internet diffusion in China: A dynamic panel data analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 872-887.
    14. Dohse, Dirk & Lim, Cheng Yee, 2016. "Macro-geographic location and internet adoption in poor countries: What is behind the persistent digital gap?," Kiel Working Papers 2067, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    15. 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.
    16. Feng, Guangchao Charles, 2015. "Determinants of Internet diffusion: A focus on China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 176-185.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inequality; technological diffusion; internet; education; English proficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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