ABSTRACT

This paper examines spatial patterns of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption and utilization and seeks to understand underlying reasons for the digital divide in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Five distinctive clusters of technology adoption and use factors are identified, characterized, and geographically mapped. Disparities in adoption and utilization in ICTs in 36 LAC countries are examined Using a Spatially Aware Technology Utilization Model, fifteen socioeconomic, innovation, business efficiency, infrastructural, affordability, and societal openness indicators are posited to be associated with six ICT indicators. Human development, civil liberties, political rights, urban population, and electricity access are found to influence ICT adoption and use in LAC indicating socio-economic, urban, societal openness, and infrastructural dimensions of the digital divide in this world region. For a sub-sample of Latin American nations, regression findings point to human development and infrastructural factors. Spatial bias in confirmatory analysis is diagnosed, and policies are recommended.

摘要

本文研究了信息和通信技术（ICT）的采用和利用的空间格局，并试图了解造成拉丁美洲和加勒比（LAC）数字鸿沟的根本原因。确定，表征和地理划分了五个技术采用和使用因素的独特集群。使用空间感知技术利用模型研究了36个拉丁美洲和加勒比地区国家在ICT中的采用和利用差异，假定有15个社会经济，创新，业务效率，基础设施，可负担性和社会开放性指标与六个ICT指标相关联。人们发现，人类发展，公民自由，政治权利，城市人口和电力的使用会影响拉丁美洲和加勒比地区ICT的采用和使用，这表明社会经济，城市，社会开放，以及该世界地区数字鸿沟的基础设施规模。对于拉美国家的子样本，回归分析结果表明了人类的发展和基础设施因素。诊断性分析中存在空间偏差，建议采取政策。