Digital Human Capital: Developing a Framework for Understanding the Economic Impact of Digital Exclusion in Low-Income Communities

Abstract

Are universal access and computer literacy the keys to ending the digital divide? No, argue Bach, Shaffer and Wolfson. Socio-economic inequality and social exclusion demand a more aggressive and nuanced plan to address this problem. They argue for a Digital Human Capital framework, taking into account the complex nature of social exclusion in the informational age. Based on a year of qualitative research on BTOP programs in Philadelphia aimed at closing the digital divide, the authors conclude that ICT training initiatives must shift toward critical social and cultural practices that encourage full participation in community affairs, cultural life, and official institutions. Policymakers must design digital inclusion initiatives that ultimately lead to diversity in media ownership, expand digital literacy, and teach participants to create meaningful content.