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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Kleemann, Linda; Semrau, Finn Ole |
| Abstract: | Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can reduce information asymmetries and thereby promote rural development for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Despite rising adoption rates of ICTs, many smallholders remain information constraint. Using panel data from 12, 456 smallholder households across 12 developing countries, we analyze the role of social ties in determining ICT adoption and access to agricultural extension services. We find that weak social ties significantly reduce ICT adoption and access to agricultural advice, increasing information inequality. Moreover, ICT adoption, strong social ties and extension services positively correlate with agricultural productivity. Our findings highlight that ICTs, while transformative, may reinforce existing inequalities by marginalizing already disadvantaged smallholders. |
| Keywords: | ICT4D, Digital divide, Social ties, Extension services, Agricultural rural development |
| JEL: | O1 O3 Q19 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwkie:318202 |
| By: | Davis, Kristin E.; Rosenbach, Gracie; Spielman, David J.; Makhija, Simrin; Mwangi, Lucy |
| Abstract: | Effective agricultural extension and advisory services are a key component of efforts to achieve sustainable agricultural production, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive economic growth. These are all necessary elements for accelerating Rwanda’s agricultural transformation. Both extension and information and communication technologies (ICT) are important elements in Rwanda’s Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation. This paper examines the capacities of public and private agricultural extension agents in Rwanda and their readiness to use ICT in their work—that is, to be digitally equipped—and provides recommendations for enhancing agricultural extension capacities through expanding and effectively using ICT. To examine capacities and readiness, we use a representative survey of 500 public and private extension agents in Rwanda, augmented by qualitative data from a literature review and key informant interviews. To assess agents’ ‘digital readiness, ’ we create two indices focused on their digital experiences and attitudes toward digital modernization. |
| Keywords: | agricultural extension; sustainability; agricultural production; livelihoods; Information and Communication Technologies; Rwanda; Africa; Eastern Africa |
| Date: | 2024–06–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:poshad:145325 |
| By: | Perin, Augusto O.; Castro, Hélder U.; Filho, Euclério B. O.; Martins, Joberto S. B. Prof. Dr. (Salvador University - UNIFACS) |
| Abstract: | The smart city strategy drives the creation of innovative solutions to the challenges of urban planning in cities. With its data collection capacity, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a key component of Information and Communication Technologies in smart cities. Likewise, Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a set of vital tools for data analysis and service optimization. This article presents a discussion on the use of IoT in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence to obtain new solutions for planning, management, and services in smart cities. The analysis is based on a literature review that seeks to identify answers to questions involving urban planning in cities, the structuring themes of smart cities, AI techniques, and data collection. The results point to a powerful synergy between IoT and AI, aiming to develop innovative, effective, and integrated services to address the challenges of contemporary urban planning. |
| Date: | 2024–12–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:r36yg_v1 |
| By: | Sulis Patrizia (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | Access to broadband networks is increasingly an essential enabler to drive the economic and social development of territories, improving access to essential services such as education and contributing to the number of workplaces. The improvement of digital connectivity and Internet network performance is a long-standing policy priority for the European Commission to strengthen regional development and resilience and overcome spatial disparities in access to opportunities across different European regions. In this sense, mapping and understanding the spatial patterns of broadband network access and performance across regions in the EU27 is critical to adequately address the possible disparities and needs of different places and territories. Results presented in this report show that, over the last years, there has been a generalised improvement in broadband performance across all EU Member States, both for the fixed and mobile broadband networks. Whereas performance differences between cities and rural areas are still significant, contributing to a well-known âdigital divideâ, results also illustrate how, for several countries, the best performance improvements in network performance occurred in rural areas in recent years. These findings represent a promising signal for the current efforts to bridge the digital gap across territories in many European countries, envisioned by the Commission and sustained through dedicating policies. |
| Date: | 2025–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc141281 |
| By: | Katikar Tipayalai; Nattasit Chittavimongkhon; Panjapon Sattayanurak |
| Abstract: | In today’s world, where digital transformation offers numerous benefits, its uneven distribution—often driven by socioeconomic and demographic factors—can exacerbate social inequalities. This study explores the digital divide among vulnerable elderly populations in Thailand, drawing on survey data collected in Lampang province, a region with one of the highest proportions of older persons relative to its population. Focusing on their digital skills and access to government welfare services, we assess digital competence across five key domains: information literacy, communication, online safety, problem-solving, and confidence in engaging with online activities. The findings reveal significant gaps in digital literacy, with limited device ownership and internet access identified as critical barriers. Logistic regression analysis indicates that education, income, and personal access to technology are significant predictors of digital competence. While the results are region-specific, they provide important insights into the challenges faced by older populations in similar socioeconomic contexts. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as digital skills training and increased access to affordable technology, to promote inclusion and enhance the quality of life for older adults. These efforts are crucial for reducing disparities and ensuring equitable participation in Thailand’s increasingly digital society. Therefore, implementing policies and interventions that effectively address this divide is essential to fostering greater social and digital inclusion. |
| Keywords: | Digital disparity; Logistic regression; Older adults; Aging society; Thailand |
| JEL: | J18 O31 O33 |
| Date: | 2025–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pui:dpaper:234 |