Determining Digitalization Issues (ICT Adoption, Digital Literacy, and the Digital Divide) in Rural Areas by Using Sample Surveys: The Case of Armenia

Felix H. Arion, Gevorg Harutyunyan, Vardan Aleksanyan, Meri Muradyan, Hovhannes Asatryan () and Meri Manucharyan
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Felix H. Arion: Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur ST, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
Gevorg Harutyunyan: Institute of Economics after M. Kotanyan, The National Academy of Sciences of RA, 15 Grigor Lusavorich Str., Yerevan 0015, Armenia
Vardan Aleksanyan: Faculty of Economics and Management, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian St., Yerevan 0009, Armenia
Meri Muradyan: Institute of Economics after M. Kotanyan, The National Academy of Sciences of RA, 15 Grigor Lusavorich Str., Yerevan 0015, Armenia
Hovhannes Asatryan: Institute of Economics after M. Kotanyan, The National Academy of Sciences of RA, 15 Grigor Lusavorich Str., Yerevan 0015, Armenia
Meri Manucharyan: Institute of Economics after M. Kotanyan, The National Academy of Sciences of RA, 15 Grigor Lusavorich Str., Yerevan 0015, Armenia

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Digital technologies have penetrated all spheres of human life, becoming an integral element of sustainable development, and rural areas and agriculture are no exception. However, the processes of digital transformation possess certain challenges. Among them are ICT penetration, digital literacy of society, and the digital divide. This article aims to evaluate the digital penetration and the digital divide in rural areas of Armenia and identify and propose directions for improvement. For that purpose, a sample survey was conducted among rural households. The questionnaires included questions aimed at assessing digital literacy, as well as the level of ICT penetration and use. In addition, the Digital Devices and Technologies Usage Index (DTUI) was composed and calculated. The comparison of DTUI values revealed that being distant from the capital Yerevan can negatively impact ICT usage and digital penetration. It was revealed that households with higher incomes tend to use more ICT, which can indicate a possible positive relationship between DTUI and can be further studied by integrating econometric regression analysis. To facilitate and accelerate the processes of digital penetration and ICT use in rural areas of Armenia, relevant proposals were presented in the scope of the article. The results of this article can be useful for policymakers and the results part can be relevant for wider audiences. In particular, the recommendations presented in the article can be used by the RA Government as practical state support measures aimed at the promotion of digitalization in rural areas. Further research can include the digitalization issues in urban areas and provide insights into the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

Keywords: Armenia; digitalization; digital divide; digital literacy rural areas; ICT penetration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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