A Study On International Digital Divide From An Economic Perspective

Digital Divide is a new phenomenon emerging with the development of information and communication technology (ICT). This thesis designs a theoretical analysis framework to research international digital divide from an economic perspective, goes deep into economic effect of international digital divide, and empirically analyzes the determinants of ICT penetration level and diffusion rate, based on which to put forward Chinese trains of thoughts and countermeasures on bridging digital divide.In chapter one, the thesis reviews the literature of digital divide systematically, introduces research routines and framework. In chapter two, the thesis analyzes theoretical genesis of digital divide, discriminates and defines the conception of digital divide entirely, emphasizes on economic connotations and extensions of digital divide. In chapter three, based on the techno-economic paradigm theory, this thesis expatiates on ICT's economic characteristics and rules of network economy, dialectically analyzes the dual economic effect of international digital divide and its possible economic consequences. In chapter four, the thesis firstly describes the status quo of international digital divide, and empirically studies the determinants of ICT penetration level and diffusion rate. In chapter five, under the comparison and evaluation of synthetic indexes about international digital divide, the thesis constructs a framework of international digital divide index primarily and analyzes the status and issues of Chinese digital divide. In chapter six, the thesis compares the solutions on resolving digital divide in international society and brings forward Chinese basic trains of thoughts and idiographic countermeasures. In chapter seven, the thesis summarizes whole conclusions and puts forward further research.The innovations of this thesis are as follows:1. Initiate a new economic angle to research international digital divide systematically.2. Completely discriminate the conception of digital divide, illustrate economic connotations and extensions of digital divide more clearly and perfectly.3. Dialectically analyze that international digital divide has dual economic effect to cause economic divergence or convergence. A cumulative growth model and a...