Regional versus individual aspects of the digital divide in Germany

Schleife, Katrin

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URL:	https://madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/1470
URN:	urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-14707
Document Type:	Working paper
Year of publication:	2006
The title of a journal, publication series:	ZEW Discussion Papers
Volume:	06-085
Place of publication:	Mannheim
Publication language:	English
Institution:	Sonstige Einrichtungen > ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung
MADOC publication series:	Veröffentlichungen des ZEW (Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung) > ZEW Discussion Papers
Subject:	330 Economics
Classification:	JEL: O33 O18 R20 ,
Subject headings (SWD):	Internet , Benutzung , Deutschland , Digitale Spaltung , Regionale Disparität
Keywords (English):	digital divide , Internet use , regional differences
Abstract:	This paper analyzes the regional dimension of the German digital divide. It considers the impact of regional characteristics on differences in the share of Internet use between German counties. In addition, it studies the influence of regional factors as well as individual characteristics on the individual probability of becoming a new Internet user. Based on two large data sets, SOEP and INKAR, the analyses show that it is not the rusticity of a region itself that explains regional differences in Internet use. The results rather indicate that it is the different composition of the population between rural and urban areas that accounts for the regional digital divide.