Title: ACM: a new index to measure the digital divide

Authors: Roman Brandtweiner, Johann Kerschbaum, Elisabeth Donat

Addresses: Department of Information Systems, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Augasse 2-6, 1090 Vienna, Austria. ' Institute of Sociology, University of Vienna, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria. ' Department of Sociology, University of Innsbruck, Universitaetsstrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract: In developed countries, access to the internet has become, at least hypothetically, possible for everybody. Although access is a precondition for usage, it does not automatically lead to usage. More sophisticated measures are needed to explain the persistent number of non-users. In our paper a new index measure is developed. Based on a representative survey in Austria (N = 529), we reconstruct the DDIX of Selhofer and Husing (2002). Our critique of this index is then used to develop a new index. We argue that, in addition to access, skills and motivation are important components for new internet users.

Keywords: index; digital divide; survey; indicators; benchmarking; e-government; e-democracy; electronic democracy; electronic government; e-business; electronic business; e-participation; electronic participation; online access; skills; motivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2008.021876

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2008 Vol.6 No.6, pp.590 - 610

Published online: 08 Dec 2008 *

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