The authors consider the problem of information inequality from two points of view: as an inequality in access to Internet technologies, and as an inequality in access to information and knowledge. The article defines the factors that influence the digital divide and the factors that determine the level of information adoption. The article provides an analysis of the specifics of the digital divide problem at different stages of the formation of the information society. The process of information system development in Russia is considered by the authors in the article. Various factors affecting the rate of the Internet access by Russian people are analyzed. Data on the inequality of access to the governmental and municipal on-line services are given in the article.
Highlights:
• The problem of the digital divide can be considered from two perspectives: firstly, as an inequality in access to information and communication technologies, secondly, as an inequality in access to information and knowledge in the society.
• Three reasons for differences in information adoption can be marked out: differences in ineffective ways of obtaining information, differences in the ability to perceive and use it, differences in the need of information.
• The digital divide has social and economic aspects, which condition one another.
• The problem of the digital divide bears a particular importance in a modern economy since information becomes a key factor in its development and access to information serves as the main indicator of the social standard of living.
• Since information economy users have approximately the same access to external information resources, which are used in production, then competitive advantages of the users are defined by their human characteristics.
• Inequality in the Internet access in Russia in terms of income of the population and geographical location is almost absent, for example, the Internet access index in the Central federal district is 71%, in the Siberian Federal District-70%, and in the Southern and North Caucasus district-69%.
• The rate of the Internet use in Russia depends on the size and type of the settlement, though the gap between urban and rural areas is not significant in this index.
• The main reason for the digital divide in the use of the Internet and, in particular, governmental Internet services is that the population belongs to different age groups.
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