Title: Information and communication technology spending and the latest (2008-) economic crisis

Authors: Katarina Rojko; Dušan Lesjak; Janez Šušteršič

Addresses: School of Advanced Social Sciences in Nova Gorica, Gregorčičeva 19, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia ' University of Primorska, Titov trg 4, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; Slovenia; International School for Social and Business Studies, Mariborska cesta 7, 3000 Celje, Slovenia ' International School for Social and Business Studies, Mariborska cesta 7, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Abstract: This paper presents the research on the latest (2008-) economic crisis impact on information and communication technology (ICT) spending. It identifies four types of deviations from the classical diffusion of innovation theory during the crisis, with regard to individual ICT components and users. The deviations found for specific segments of ICT are a slower process of diffusion and a smaller population adopting innovation, a delayed adoption of innovation by the majority of population, a faster adoption of innovation due to the incentive impact of the crisis, and a longer-lasting use of innovation. The research findings also demonstrate that the negative impact of the economic crisis on ICT spending varied depending on factors such as the sector, type and size of the user, as well as on the economic development of the region. The research therefore enabled a critical evaluation of theories on diffusion of innovation, which serve to explain the identified problem, while we were also able to develop an alternative view on the phenomena, in particular on the ICT impacts on the economy, society, etc. and vice versa.

Keywords: economic crisis; information and communications technology; information technology; ICT spending; ICT investment; innovation diffusion; ICT markets; ICT users; ICT segments; information society; ICT transformation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSE.2015.072195

International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 2015 Vol.7 No.4, pp.306 - 326

Received: 15 Oct 2014
Accepted: 05 Jan 2015
Published online: 03 Oct 2015 *

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