Margarita Billon

The Spatial Distribution of the Internet in the European Union: Does Geographical Proximity Matter?

Abstract This paper examines the spatial distribution of the Internet in the European regions. To achieve this aim, our analysis combines a set of non-parametric techniques proposed in the context of the economic growth literature, with various spatial econometric instruments. The results reveal that regional disparities in Internet adoption are greater than territorial inequalities in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. In addition, our findings show that the distribution under consideration is characterized by the presence of positive spatial dependence, which implies that physically adjacent regions register a similar degree of Internet adoption. Finally, the analysis carried out allows us to assess the role played by variables such as GDP per capita, unemployment rate, stock of human capital and population density, in explaining the spatial distribution of the Internet in the European Union.

Skills, technology and organisational innovation in Spanish firms

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to provide empirical evidence on the relationships among new technologies, innovative work practices and upskilling in the Spanish case. Design/methodology/approach – Using detailed plant‐level data from a survey of Spanish manufacturing firms, we apply estimation methods, such as tobit and ordered probit models, to test the hypothesis that the use of ICT, AMT, and innovative work practices is positively related to upskilling. Findings – As available empirical evidence shows for other countries, we have found that AMT, ICT and innovative work practices are positively related to skills, although they have different effects on workforce composition and training. We have also found several significant effects of the interactive terms of the three technologies and work practices considered on the selected variables of upskilling. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation is the lack of time series data. Cross‐sectional data do not allow the use of lagged variables and make it impossible to analyse the evolution of the adoption of new technologies and work practices by firms and their dynamic effects on skills, or to study causalities among variables. In addition, the study relates only to manufacturing industries. Further research should consider expanding the analysis to the service sector and studying possible complementarities between technology and work practices, in terms of labor cost savings. Originality/value – This paper offers empirical evidence for Spain on the relationship between new technologies, innovative work practices and upskilling considered jointly. It analyses two different technologies: ICT and AMT. The paper also focuses on different dimensions of upskilling.

Determinants of Internet use in Spain

This paper analyzes the impact of a variety of socio-economic, demographic and regional factors to explain Internet use and the frequency of use by individuals in Spain. We have employed binomial and ordered probit models with a Heckmans two-stage estimation procedure. This allows us to distinguish between different variables and explain both use and the intensity of use, respectively. Internet use is mainly associated with education, age, occupation, employment in service sector, nationality, urban areas and regional GDP per capita. In contrast, frequency of Internet usage is positively related to broadband connection, education, Internet skills, the ways through which Internet skills are acquired, gender, and population size. Knowledge of differences in the determinants of Internet use and its extent of use may help to specify the most suitable policies for each case.

Patterns of Combined ICT Use and Innovation in the European Regions

ABSTRACT This article investigates the existence of combined patterns of regional innovation and the information and communication technologies (ICT) use, and the factors explaining them at a regional level in the European Union (EU). The use of canonical correlation analysis (CCA) allows us to identify two differentiated patterns of regional innovation and ICT use. The main pattern is defined by those regions combining high levels of ICT use and innovation. This pattern is mostly explained by institutional factors, such as the quality of government, and by region-specific characteristics, such as total employment in knowledge-intensive services, total research and development (R&D), lifelong learning (LifeLong), and gross domestic product (GDP). We also identified a second pattern that corresponds with regions showing strong disparities between innovation and ICT use levels. This pattern is mainly determined by R&D and by institutional variables such as government quality and fiscal decentralization. Our findings shed light on the factors that jointly explain innovation and ICT diffusion, and could be useful in the design of innovation and ICT diffusion policies at both regional and national levels.

Are new work practices applied together with ICT and AMT

Abstract The goal of this paper is to analyze the association between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) and the adoption of a number of new work practices, such as job autonomy, teamwork, job breadth, suggestion systems and involvement groups. Special attention is paid to examining whether the strength of the association with new work practices is the same for the two technologies. The data used in the empirical part of the research come from a survey conducted in 281 Spanish manufacturing plants. The results show that ICT use among production workers is only positively related to higher coverage of involvement groups. On the other hand, AMT use is positively associated with the incidence of self-managed teams, job autonomy and suggestion systems. We have found differences between ICT and AMT in the strength of association with new work practices for self-managed teams and suggestion systems.

Innovation and ICT use by firms and households in the EU: A multivariate analysis of regional disparities

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence of patterns that combine innovation and information and communication technologies (ICT) use, and the factors explaining them in the European Union.,The authors use data for firms and households at the regional level in the EU-27. Factorial and cluster analyses are used to the determine combined patterns for both dimensions and to elaborate a taxonomy of the European regions, respectively. Finally, the multiple discriminant analysis serves to identify the factors that characterize the patterns detected.,The results show the existence of three regional clusters that capture different combinations of patenting and ICT use. Research and development (R&D) expenditure in the business sector, government quality, gross domestic product per capita, the number of researchers, and employment by the highest level of education attained are the key variables explaining the disparities in innovation and ICT use in the European regions.,The conclusions point to the key role played by business R&D and knowledge resources within an institutional framework that facilitates actions oriented to benefiting regions through both knowledge creation and knowledge diffusion derived from the combined activities of innovation and ICT use.,The paper provides for the first time a characterization of the European regions that jointly considers innovation and ICT use. It also contributes to the literature by exploring differences in ICT use by households and firms, and the factors explaining them. The study can provide new insights into the design of public policies that may consider the common factors that explain combinations of innovation and technology use.

Internet, Educational Disparities, and Economic Growth: Differences Between Low-Middle and High-Income Countries

This paper examines the influence of educational inequality on the impacts of Internet use on economic growth. We use panel data estimations on a sample of 90 countries from 1995 to 2010. We find that Internet use has a positive impact on growth in both developing and developed countries. Furthermore, we also find that educational inequality negatively influences the impact of Internet use on economic growth, the effect being more significant in developing countries. The results highlight that in addition to the role played by the level of human capital, public policies should take into account the educational distribution to boost Internet use and favor its impacts on economic growth.

Educational inequalities: Do they affect the relationship between Internet use and economic growth?

This paper examines the impact of Internet use on economic growth and the extent to which educational inequality modulates this impact for a panel data set of 94 countries between 1995 and 2010. We obtain a positive and significant impact of Internet use on economic growth and a negative influence of educational inequality on the Internet’s impact on growth. When we disaggregate by income levels, the results indicate that Internet use is positively associated with economic growth for middle- and high-income countries. Educational inequality influences the impact of Internet use on economic growth only for middle- and low-income countries, although with the opposite sign. For middle-income countries, the impact is negative, while the impact is positive for low-income economies. The research provides evidence for the first time about how inequalities in education may limit the positive economic outcomes and benefits derived from the use of information and communication technologies.

ICTs impacts on trade: a comparative dynamic analysis for internet, mobile phones and broadband

We investigate the impact of internet use, mobile phones, and broadband on bilateral trade flows using a dynamic gravity model and panel data for 2004‒2013. We find a significant and positive relat...