ANALYSIS OF DISPARITIES IN THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN THE EU COUNTRIES

In general, the digital economy plays an important role in the achievement of sustainable economic development, creation of a favourable investment climate, increase in income, and improvement of the welfare of the population. The digital economy is a very broad concept and it refers to the digitalization of the economy as a whole. However, it is based on infrastructure and the intensity of the use of Internet technology. To what extent do the EU countries differ in terms of availability and use of Internet technology? What trends occur in the dynamics of disparities in the level of use of Internet technology in the EU countries? In relation to the abovementioned questions, it is necessary to monitor and analyse the level of use of Internet technology in various EU countries in dynamics. The purpose of the research is to assess the level of use of Internet technology in the EU as a basis of the digital economy, as well as to assess disparities in the use of Internet technology in the EU in the period 2012-2020.