Analysis of the Internet diffusion in the non-profit sector: the social digital divide in Italy

Abstract

This paper analyzes Internet diffusion among various organizations, based on daily observation of second-level domain name registrations under the ".it" ccTLD. In particular, we analyzed domain names registered by organizations in the non-profit sector. The penetration rate, calculated according to the number of organizations, was computed for various widely separated geographic levels (regions). A concentration analysis was performed in order to determine whether the geographical distribution of Internet use in Italy is less concentrated with respect to both the number of existing institutions and income distribution, suggesting a diffusive effect. Regression analysis was performed using demographic, social, economic and infrastructure indicators. Results show that a "social digital divide" exists, both in terms of geographical distribution (i.e., in macroareas -Northern, Central, and Southern Italy -and at the regional level) and in terms of the legal status of the organizations, and that this digital divide will probably decrease in the future. 157

Global Digital Divide: A Dynamic Analysis Based on the Bass Model

“…Scholars who argue that the global digital divide is an issue of less and less public policy relevance as the gap of concern is narrowing (e.g., Camagni and Capello 2005; Kvasny and Keil 2006; Martinelli, Serrecchia, and Serrecchia 2006; Shelley et al 2004; Strover 2003) are overoptimistic at best. As long as ICT adoption is considered to have broad implications in people's social and economic lives as well as countries’ productivity, the wide and persistent gaps of Internet diffusion among countries should be taken seriously now and in the future by policy makers on the global stage.…”

“…Whether the digital divide is widening or narrowing has been an important public policy question that has attracted much debate. Some studies claim that the gap between the digital haves and have-nots is narrowing (e.g., Camagni and Capello 2005; Martinelli, Serrecchia, and Serrecchia 2006; Shelley et al 2004), while some comment that the digital divide issue is “on the sidelines” (Strover 2003). However, some research has concluded that the digital divide problem has not been mitigated and, on the contrary, that the existing gap may get wider (e.g., Coco and Short 2004; Demunter 2005; Sassi 2005).…”