Abstract
Academic literature regarding the factors influencing Internet use is presented. Based on this literature, a theoretical model of the demand for the use of the Internet is developed. The estimation of the demand for Internet use in the U.S. is performed using logit and probit. The model includes explanatory variables such as gender, race, income, age, educational level, marital status, parenthood, employment status and student status. Features related to the Internet such as familiarity with and the need to use the Internet and the degree of Internet availability at home are also included. The empirical study uses survey data containing a relatively large number of respondents. The results indicate no gender or a racial digital divide in the use of the Internet. Employment is found to negatively correspond to Internet use. Marital status has no significant impact on Internet use. The study concludes with an interpretation of the empirical results as well as directions for future research.
Highlights
The hallmark of the fast moving change in the United States economy has been in part due to the incorporation of information technology and in particular the Internet into business operations
The model presented in equation (2) was estimated using three empirical techniques, logit, probit and ordinary least squares (OLS)
An adult’s Internet use in the United States was studied using a data set with a large number of participants
Summary
The hallmark of the fast moving change in the United States economy has been in part due to the incorporation of information technology and in particular the Internet into business operations. The literature discussed above implies theoretical relationships among Internet usage and the discussed variables Grouping these variables into broad classifications, these classifications are the user’s age, educational level, gender, income level, race, marital status, Internet access and the motivation to use the Internet (number of children in the household, access at work and use as a student). These theoretical relationships are expressed in equation 1. The factors examined include gender, age, race, marital status, educational level, income level, the number of telephone lines and children, use of the Internet at work and at home, whether the individual is a student or is working. =1 =3 if if started started going going on on line within the last six months, =2 if started going on line a year line 2 or 3 years ago, =4 if started going on line more than 3 years aaggoo,1685
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call