Local Geographies of Digital Inequality
38 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2017
Date Written: February 2, 2017
Abstract
Combining data from a sample survey, the 2013 Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS), with the 2011 UK census, we employ small area estimation to estimate Internet use in small geographies in Britain. This is the first attempt to estimate Internet use at any small-scale level. Doing so, allows us to understand the local geographies of British Internet use: showing that the area with least use is in the North East, followed by central Wales. The highest Internet use is in London and south eastern England. The most interesting finding is that after controlling for demographic variables, geographic differences become non-significant. The apparent geographic differences appear to be due to differences in demographic characteristics. We conclude by considering the policy implications of this fact.
Keywords: small area estimation (SAE), Internet use, geographical inequality, digital divide, Great Britain
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