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Internet Use and Ethnic Heterogeneity in a Cross-Section of Countries

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  • Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa
  • Okai, Davidson
  • Posso, Alberto

Abstract

This paper investigates the association between ethnic heterogeneity and information technology related outcomes such as internet access and internet use. We argue that the global digital divide, as measured by cross-country differences in internet access and use, could be explained by cross-country differences in ethnic heterogeneity. We use indices of ethnic and linguistic fractionalization as measures of ethnic heterogeneity. Using data on a cross-section of 93 countries, we find evidence of a negative association between ethnic heterogeneity and the use and access of internet. Thus, cross-country differences in the global digital divide can be explained by the levels of ethnic fractionalization. Other determinants of the digital divide include income, infrastructure, literacy level, level of urbanization and inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Okai, Davidson & Posso, Alberto, 2015. "Internet Use and Ethnic Heterogeneity in a Cross-Section of Countries," EconStor Preprints 110902, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110902
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    Cited by:

    1. Simplice Asongu & Oasis Kodila-tedika, 2017. "Tribalism and Government Effectiveness," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 37(1), pages 156-167.
    2. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Maria Rebecca Valenzuela, 2019. "Determinants of firm performance: does ethnic diversity matter?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 2079-2105, December.
    3. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill, 2017. "Microfinance and Ethnic Diversity," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 93(300), pages 112-141, March.
    4. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Nuhu, Ahmed Salim, 2015. "Ethnic Diversity and Educational Attainment," EconStor Conference Papers 125567, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    5. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa, 2020. "Ethnic diversity and transport poverty," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 297-309.
    6. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Lisa Farrell & Russell Smyth, 2019. "Neighbourhood ethnic diversity and mental health in Australia," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(9), pages 1075-1087, September.
    7. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2017. "Ethnic Diversity and Poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 285-302.
    8. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Nuhu, Ahmed Salim, 2015. "Ethnic Diversity and Educational Attainment," EconStor Conference Papers 125567, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Janet Exornam Ocloo & Diana Siawor-Robertson, 2017. "Ethnic Diversity and Health Outcomes," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 1077-1112, December.

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    Keywords

    ethnic diversity; digital divide; information inequality; internet;
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