Title: Assessing the digital divide in OECD and BRICS countries: implications for public policy

Authors: Natalia I. Lavrikova; Leyla R. Magomaeva; Gayane A. Kochyan; Sergey V. Ponomarev; Elena P. Borshchevskaya

Addresses: Russian Federation Security Guard Service Federal Academy, Priborostroitelnaya str., 35, Orel, 302020, Russian Federation ' Grozny State Oil Technical University named after Academician M.D. Millionshchikov, Isaev Avenue 100, Grozny, 364061, Russian Federation ' North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making, 40 Let Pobedy str. 39, Krasnodar, 350901, Russian Federation ' Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Kaluga Branch, Chizhevskogo St. 17, Kaluga, 248016, Russian Federation ' Voronezh State University, University Square, 1, Voronezh, 394018, Russian Federation

Abstract: The study aims to identify the digital divide in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries as a policy outcome and justify government regulation priority areas to ensure digital alignment in the global economy. The paper reveals the content of the concept of the "digital divide" and identifies the sources of its deepening in the current environment. The authors analysed available development indicators for developed OECD countries and developing BRICS countries to identify existing forms of digital inequality resulting from implemented government policies. The paper substantiates priority areas of state regulation to strengthen the position of developing countries and achieve digital equalisation in the global economy.

Keywords: policy; technology; digitalisation; digital divide; digital inequality; OECD; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; BRICS; Brazil; Russia; India; China; South Africa; management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.139453

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2024 Vol.24 No.3, pp.285 - 302

Received: 01 Jun 2023
Accepted: 18 Oct 2023
Published online: 02 Jul 2024 *

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