The Effect of Native Language on Internet Usage

Neil Gandal

No 3633, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: In this Paper, I explore the relationship between native language and use of the Internet and examine whether English is likely to retain its first-mover advantage of a large installed base of English language websites. I study this issue empirically using a unique dataset on (home) Internet use at the individual level in Quebec from Media Metrix. The results suggest that English language websites are less of a barrier for French-speaking youths than for French-speaking adults in Quebec. To the extent that the younger generation drives the dynamics of the Internet, the results provide some support for the hypothesis that English will retain its first mover advantage of a large installed base of English language websites. I also examine the effect of bilingualism on Internet use and find that among native French speakers, bilingual individuals use English language websites significantly more than their monolingual counterparts.

Keywords: Internet use; Network effects; Language (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 L86 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-net
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://cepr.org/publications/DP3633 (application/pdf)
CEPR Discussion Papers are free to download for our researchers, subscribers and members. If you fall into one of these categories but have trouble downloading our papers, please contact us at subscribers@cepr.org

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3633

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from
https://cepr.org/publications/DP3633

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers Centre for Economic Policy Research, 33 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DX.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ().