Abstract
This paper addresses the ‘Digital Divide' concerning disparities in adopting information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the regional level in Türkiye. Acknowledging the multiscale dimension of the digital divide, two main research questions are addressed: (1) Is there a digital divide between regions in Türkiye? If so, (2) How does the digital divide affect the development disparities in Türkiye? The ICT Development Index (IDI) and Socio-Economic Development Index (SEDI) are utilized together to answer these questions. Results reveal a positive correlation between them and significant discrepancies between Türkiye‘s eastern and western regions. Remarkably, the digitalization gap is narrower than the socio-economic development gap. The findings suggest that while digital technologies have diffused rapidly in Türkiye, their socio-economic benefits have been absorbed more slowly. This study aims to contribute to the literature on the digital divide and information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) at the regional level, providing insights for policymakers to address regional digital inequalities in Türkiye.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 608-625 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Information Technology for Development |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 Commonwealth Secretariat.
Funding
This study is based on Gülfiye Özcan Alp’s doctoral dissertation titled, ‘A Search for A Smart Sustainable City: Overcoming Digital Divide’ supervised by Prof. Dr. Tuzin Baycan and supported by 100/2000 CoHE Doctoral program. Earlier versions of this study were presented at the 20th National Regional Science and Planning Congress, Türkiye, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, 20–21 May,2021 and at the 61st European Regional Science Association (ERSA) Congress, University of Pécs, Hungary, 22–26 August, 2022.
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Keywords
- Digital divide
- ICT development index
- ICT4D
- Türkiye
- information and communication technologies
- regional development
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