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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Jaume Benseny; Jarno Lahteenmaki; Juuso Toyli; Heikki Hammainen |
| Abstract: | The emergence of new wireless technologies, such as the Internet of Things, allows digitalizing new and diverse urban activities. Thus, wireless traffic grows in volume and complexity, making prediction, investment planning, and regulation increasingly difficult. This article characterizes urban wireless traffic evolution, supporting operators to drive mobile network evolution and policymakers to increase national and local competitiveness. We propose a holistic method that widens previous research scope, including new devices and the effect of policy from multiple government levels. We provide an analytical formulation that combines existing complementary methods on traffic evolution research and diverse data sources. Results for a centric area of Helsinki during 2020-2030 indicate that daily volumes increase, albeit a surprisingly large part of the traffic continues to be generated by smartphones. Machine traffic gains importance, driven by surveillance video cameras and connected cars. While camera traffic is sensitive to law enforcement policies and data regulation, car traffic is less affected by transport electrification policy. High-priority traffic remains small, even under encouraging autonomous vehicle policies. We suggest that 5G small cells might be needed around 2025, albeit the utilization of novel radio technology and additional mid-band spectrum could delay this need until 2029. We argue that mobile network operators inevitably need to cooperate in constructing a single, shared small cell network to mitigate the high deployment costs of massively deploying small cells. We also provide guidance to local and national policymakers for IoT-enabled competitive gains via the mitigation of five bottlenecks. For example, local monopolies for mmWave connectivity should be facilitated on space-limited urban furniture or risk an eventual capacity crunch, slowing down digitalization. |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2310.14406&r=ict |
| By: | De Marco, Stefano; Dumont, Guillaume; Helsper, Ellen; Díaz-Guerra, Alejandro; Antino, Mirko; Rodríguez-Muñoz, Alfredo; Martínez-Cantos, José-Luis |
| Abstract: | This article examines how inequalities in digital skills shape the outcomes of online job‐seeking processes. Building on a representative survey of Spanish job seekers, we show that people with high digital skill levels have a greater probability of securing a job online, because of their ability to create a coherent profile and make their application visible. Additionally, it is less probable that they will experience burnout during this process than job seekers with low digital skill levels. Given the concentration of digital skills amongst people with high levels of material and digital resources, we conclude that the internet enforces existing material and health inequalities. |
| Keywords: | burnout; digital exclusion; digital inequality; digital skills; online job-seeking; Spain; RTI2018‐ 098967‐A‐I00; Research support (LSE library); Internal fund |
| JEL: | R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2023–10–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:120497&r=ict |
| By: | Sebastian Heinrich (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland); Samad Sarferaz (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland); Martin Wörter (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the global synchronicity of technology and its impact on the economy. We employ dynamic factor analysis to decompose patent data in different digital technologies for various countries into global and country-speciffc factors. Our findings confirm the existence of global and local technology cycles. We further find a significant positive correlation between the estimated global technology index and a country's economic performance. This positive effect is stronger in countries with broad tech-nological exposure. However, a concentration in only few dominant techno-logical fields seems to reduce the positive impact of the global technology cycle on a country's economic performance. |
| Keywords: | innovation index, dynamic factor model, patent data, produc- tivity growth, knowledge diffusion, digitalization, globalization |
| JEL: | O31 O33 O47 C38 L86 |
| Date: | 2023–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kof:wpskof:22-511&r=ict |
| By: | Heinz Hollenstein (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | The study provides evidence with respect to some topics of inter- and intra-firm diffusion of digital technology so far neglected in research. The analysis is based on a slightly extended version of the encompassing model of Battisti et al. (2009). We use a unique dataset that provides for the entire business sector information on the diffusion of 24 digital technologies ranging from old ones up to others developed only in recent years. We use the model, firstly, to analyse the determinants of the inter- and intra-firm diffusion of the entire set of digital technologies. Secondly, we do the same for six subfields of digital technology we identified by use of a factor analysis. Thirdly, we examine the effect of in-house learning on the intra-firm diffusion of digital technology. We distinguish between “cross-learning†(learning from previous experience with such technologies in subfields other than that considered) and “cumulative learning†(effect of previous application of relatively “old†digital technologies on the intensity of usage of advanced technology in the same or a closely related subfield). Finally, we analyse the determinants of a firm’s decision to digitalise a particular combination of two or more functional fields of its activity (fabrication, storage, marketing, etc.). The findings of this paper strongly support the underlying model in the case of the first and the second topic, whereas the evidence is somewhat weaker with regard to the third and the fourth element of the study. Finally, we find that complementing the “Battisti model†with variables representing firm-specific anticipated benefits is highly sensible, as these are powerful drivers of adoption and diffusion, which points to a strong forward-looking behaviour of firms in the diffusion process. |
| Keywords: | Adoption and diffusion of digital technologies, extent of digitalisation of business, inter- and intra-firm diffusion, Rank, stock/order and epidemic effects, effects of learning on the diffusion of IT, digitalisation of functional fields of firm activity |
| JEL: | O30 O31 O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2022–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kof:wpskof:22-504&r=ict |
| By: | Timothy Oluwafemi AYODELE; Abel Olaleye; Ayodele Adegoke; Chioma Okoro |
| Abstract: | Purpose – This study examined the sources of construction data, the methods of data acquisition and storage, and the factors that influence data management practices among construction professionals in South Africa with a view to establishing their preparedness for Industry 4.0 technologies. Design/Methodology/Approach - The study sampled the construction professionals registered with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP). A closed-ended questionnaire was administered using an online survey tool. The data collected from a total of 134 responses were analysed using mean scores, standard deviations, one-sample t-test, and principal component analysis. Findings – The results showed that the main sources of construction data are: firms' databases, networking with professional colleagues, and employees’ personal records, with mean values of 4.19, 3.51, and 3.40 respectively. Also, findings revealed that data are stored mainly via electronic databases (mean = 4.33) and paper/manual records (mean = 3.94). The PCA result showed that project characteristics/industry/organizational idiosyncrasies and level of standardization/ICT tools/skills were the major factors influencing data management practices. While these two components have variances of 35.876% and 29.540% respectively, the two cumulatively explained 65.417% of the total variance. The study concluded that data management has become an important part of the construction professional’s role Originality/value – With the increasing integration of Industry 4.0 into construction practices, and the important roles of construction professionals in data sharing and assemblage, the paper highlights the need for conscious efforts toward ensuring good data management practices. |
| Keywords: | Automation; construction professionals; data assemblage; data sources; Industry 4.0 |
| JEL: | R3 |
| Date: | 2023–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:afr:wpaper:afres2023-003&r=ict |