The Digital Divide in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Multivariate and Geospatial Analysis

This paper is the first systematic attempt to examine spatial patterns of technology adoption and utilization and understand underlying reasons for the digital divide in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Disparities in adoption, diffusion, and utilization in information and communications technologies in 37 LAC countries are examined and explained. Using a Spatially Aware Technology Utilization Model, seventeen independent socio-economic, innovation, business efficiency, infrastructural, affordability, and societal openness indicators are posited to be associated with seven dependent ICT indicators. English as a primary language, human development, and civil liberties are found to influence ICT adoption and use in Latin America and the Caribbean indicating socio-economic, language, and societal openness dimensions of the digital divide in this world region. For a smaller sub-sample of Latin American nations, regression findings point to urbanization, social, economic, and political implications. Issues stemming from spatial bias in confirmatory analysis are diagnosed, and policies are recommended.