Digital Divide in the European Union
| Author | Radu Herman |
| Position | Lecturer, Faculty of Bussines and Administration, University of Bucharest |
| Pages | 505-513 |
Page 505
If you want to know what difference communication technologies make? Answer: Try living without them from tomorow…
At the World Summit of the Information Society in December 2003, presidents and prime ministers from all over the world declared that the global challenge for the 21st century is to build a society where everyone could access and share information. We must encourage individuals and communities to achieve their full potential in promoting their development and improving their quality of life.
The growth of E-commerce and general expansion in the use of information technology (IT) in all organizations have created profound issues that reflect racial, educational, and income disparities. Among the challenges is an increased demand for IT workers and a significant shortage of potential employees with the necessary technical skills.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming very fast a distinct part of national Development strategies across the globe. ICTs have a significant role in enhancing efficiency and productivity in the process of economic growth..
The UNSC in its 38th Session presented a “Report of the Partnership on Measuring Information and Communication Technologies for Development: information and communication technology statistics” wherein it noted that “During the last decades, advancements in the access to and usage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been a driving force for changes in business and in society. While ICT diffusion and usage presents an opportunity to developing countries, the digital divide between developed and developing countries persists, posing a new challenge for development.
The Digital Divide is the gap between individuals, households, business and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard both to their opportunities to access information and communication technologies (ICTs) and to their use of the internet for a wide variety of activities.
Page 506
The OECD defines it as follows: „The term Digital Divide refers to the gap between individuals, households, business and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard both to their opportunities to access information and communication technologies(ICTs) and to their use of the Internet for a wide variety of activities.”
A knowledge base is required in today’s knowledge based society in order to be efficient as an social or economic agent. Those without qualifications are consequently less likely to participate effectively in lifelong learning. Also the risk in being left by the wayside is increasing in today’s knowledge based society. However is very important on long term to diminish the percentage of early school leavers - is essential on long term the effort on trying to achieve the magic trio for European Union: Economic Growth, Sustenability and Equity.
In the year 2000, the „digital divide” was defined: „It is a precondition for better economic performance that we create a society with greater social cohesion and less exclusion.[...] The emergence of new information and communication technologies constitutes an exceptional opportunity, provided that the risk of creating an ever-widening gap between those who have access to the new knowledge and those who do not is avoided”.(Source: European Council on Employment and Social Policy, Introductory Note to the „Objectives in the fight against poverty and social exclusion”.
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Long-Term Employment in The European Union; basic ICT skills are basic requirements for a growing number of jobs.
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An Equitable participation of society members in the „Information society”; not having ICT access or skills will increasingly be a major disadvantage in social and economic life (Example: buying my books on-line.
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Economic reasons (demand side economics); part of the population not having ICT access won’t be able to be e-consumers.
The European Union needs an adequate output of scientific specialists in order to become the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world. The rising demand for scientific specialists is underlined by the conclusions of the Barcelona European Council (2002) “that overall spending on R&D and innovation in the Union should be increased with the aim of approaching 3% of GDP by 2010”.
The important role of ICT has been acknowledged an is wide reflected in official policy documents including: Social Policy, Health Policy, Education Policy, Employment Policy and Info-society Policy.
We can determine a vicios circle between:
Unenployment
Poor skills
Low income and Social exclusion
Poor health
Digital exclusion
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In a knowledge society individuals must update and complement their knowledge, competencies and skills throughout life to maximise their personal development and to maintain and improve their position in the labour market.
The Lisbon European Summit called for a “substantial annual increase in the per capita investment in human resources”. In the Communication “Investing efficiently in education and training: an imperative for Europe", the European Commission proposes a number of issues of relevance for the efficient investment in education and training that should be analysed in detail. The Council is looking forward to the outcome of ongoing work before deciding on further action.
IT tools can help soften on absorbing the knowledge generated anywhere on the globe and thus help raise income but cannot jump obstacles in improving or implementing institutions.
We must pay attention when we construct policies in reducing the digital divide because we must consider the real ineficiencies in the...
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