Digital divide in eGovernment: The eInclusion gap model

Abstract

The Digital Divide is a matter of fact in most countries. For instance, senior citizens, citizens without employment, or citizens with low education utilise online services in a distinct way, often to a lesser extent. Within this paper, we examine how such digital divide groups make use of different online services. Here, four types on services are taken into account and contrasted with each other: Internet usage, E-Commerce usage, E-Government for Information and E-Government for Transaction. As a result, we develop the E-Inclusion-Gap Model which addresses gaps between such service-specific usage and we discuss possible reasons behind them. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008.