Digital Divide Between Urban and Rural Regions in China

Abstract

This research paper evaluates the development relationship between the adoption rate of Information and Communications Technologies (the Internet, mobile phone, pager, personal computer, and telephone) and per capita income gap between the urban and rural areas in China, mainly between 1985 and 2006. The Pearson's correlation coefficients suggest there has been a strong correlation in the development relationship between this income gap and the adoption of the Internet, mobile phone, personal computer, and telephone during this period. This paper also examines the adoption of these ICTs between the urban and rural regions, and probes into two pressing issues that affect the digital divide – affordability of these technologies to the rural population, and the educational level of rural users that impact upon usage capability.