Convergence Analysis of Regional Digital Divide on Internet and Mobile Phone Usage in China

Abstract

This study examines the dynamic changes in the regional digital divides from 1997 to 2019 in China using both macro and micro convergence analysis methods. We use yearly penetration data on Internet and mobile phone usage in 31 provinces. These provinces are grouped into the three regions according to varying levels of education, income, urbanization and geography to formulate regional digital divides. The most important finding is that the theory of convergence applies extremely well indicating that lagging region with a large initial relative digital divide experiences a faster decline to move toward ultimate elimination of the relative divide. However, the analysis on actual number of Internet and mobile phone users in the leading region are still substantially larger over the lagging region and continues growing. Thus, multiple years of continuous reduction of the relative divide will be needed to equalize actual number of Internet and mobile phone users between the leading and lagging region. These results are supported by all four influencing factors in education, income, urbanization and geography.

Keywords: Speed of catch-up, convergence, divergence, three levels of digital divide, influencing determinants, regional digital divide, relative digital divide, absolute digital divide