1. ECI 512~ Dr. Holcomb~NC State University
DIGITAL DIVIDE AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS KRISTEN COMBS SUMMER HILL GAIL KEOWN J. LYNNE MILLER ANGELA WILKERSON
ECI 512~ Dr. Holcomb~NC State University

2. What is the Digital Divide?
In, The Digital Divide in Students' Usage of Technology Tools, "The U.S. Department of Commerce referred to this gap between people who have access to computer technology and people who do not as the 'digital divide'" (Kim and Bagaka, p. 319). Kim and Bagaka also define the digital divide as the gap between those who are able to participate fully in the technology agenda and those who are not (p. 319).

3. Why is this important?
“As of 2003, only 7% of the world’s 6.4 billion people have had access to the World Wide Web”

4. Economic Impacts of the Digital Divide
1. Schools are unable to prepare students to compete on the international level.
2. Lack of access to information technology places businesses at a disadvantage within the global market.
3. It enables highly trained people an opportunity for higher economic growth.
4. The digital divide will continue to increase the gap between historically privileged and disenfranchised groups.

5. 1. Competition at the Global Level
One of the major concerns of the digital divide is the effect it will have on students. In poor countries and rural areas students are at a disadvantage to receiving the 21st century skills needed to compete globally. Many companies are moving their activities to the Internet and new businesses are being developed that operate solely on the Internet.

6. 2. Access to Global Businesses
Along with people not having access to social media networks to communicate with others but there is also a lack of access to the business opportunities available online. Therefore, those who don’t have access to the Internet are unable to carry out e-commerce and e-business.

7. 3. Economic Growth
Only those who have access to information technology will experience economic growth personally and globally. Access to technological resources enables people to improve their circumstances. These improvements may come in the form of health care, social, and economic support.

8. 4. The “haves” and the “have nots”
As long as the gap of the digital divide remains, the gap between the haves and have no’s will widen as well. It is assumed by many academic commentators that ICT can ‘empower’ individuals (D’Allesandro and Dosa, 2001), increase levels of social interaction and civic involvement (Katz et al., 2001) as well as facilitate easy and widespread access to education and other public and government services.

9. SOLUTIONS 1. Universal Internet Service
2. Government subsidies for home computer equipment and technology training
3. City-wide broadband networks
4. Teacher Training
5. University/Public School Partnership

10. REFERENCES
Kim, S. H., & Bagaka, J. (2005).The digital divide in students' usage of technology tools: a multilevel analysis of the role of teacher practices and classroom characteristics. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 5 (3/4),
Selwyn, Neil. (2004). Reconsidering Political and Popular Understandings of the Digital Divide. New Media and Society, 6(341).
doi: /