Bridging the Social and Digital Divides in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala: A Capabilities Approach

ABSTRACT Combining empirical evidence with Amartya Sen's concept of capabilities, this article argues that the digital divide is not merely a problem of access to ICTs. It is part of a larger developmental problem in which vast sections of the world's population are deprived of the capabil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDevelopment and change Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 409 - 435
Main Authors Thomas, Jayan Jose, Parayil, Govindan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2008
Subjects
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh (state), India
Andhra Pradesh, India
Capability theory
Development research
Diffusion
Equality
Field work
India
Information and communication technologies
Information sources
Information Technology
Internet
Kerala
Kerala (state), India
Kerala, India
Knowledge
Rural Areas
Rural development
Sen, Amartya Kumar
Social Development
Socioeconomic development
Technology Transfer
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Summary:ABSTRACT Combining empirical evidence with Amartya Sen's concept of capabilities, this article argues that the digital divide is not merely a problem of access to ICTs. It is part of a larger developmental problem in which vast sections of the world's population are deprived of the capabilities to use ICTs, acquire information and convert information into useful knowledge. Fieldwork research including sample surveys conducted in rural locations in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh in India shows that these capabilities can only be created through large‐scale complementary interventions in economic and social development.
Bibliography:istex:05C9114990FB0C11BE56D7C065ED159718AAF06E
ark:/67375/WNG-V8QHDXCZ-9
ArticleID:DECH486
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SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0012-155X
1467-7660
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-7660.2008.00486.x