Title: State of digital divide and its determinants: evidences from student level survey in West Bengal, India

Authors: Sumit Kumar Maji; Arindam Laha

Addresses: Department of Commerce, The University of Burdwan, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104, West Bengal, India ' Department of Commerce, The University of Burdwan, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104, West Bengal, India

Abstract: Digital divide (DD) literature speaks about three forms: access-based 1st order DD, use/skill-based 2nd order DD and outcome-based 3rd order DD. There is a dearth of research studies unearthing the DD in its all forms and its determinants amongst the students in the context of India and West Bengal. The present study tries to shed light on the presence 1st, 2nd and 3rd order DD amongst the students of The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India. A total number of 515 responses were gathered for the purpose of the study. The study employed censored Tobit model in order to unearth the determinants of DD amongst the respondents. The outcome of the study revealed presence of DD in its all forms amongst the students. Stream of study, location of residence, gender, parental education and family income were found to be the important determinants of DD as a whole.

Keywords: digital divide; access; use; outcome; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2022.126385

International Journal of Business Environment, 2022 Vol.13 No.4, pp.392 - 417

Received: 14 Jun 2021
Accepted: 15 Feb 2022
Published online: 24 Oct 2022 *

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