Title

Information Inequality and Network Externalities: A Comparative Study of the Diffusion of Television and the Internet

Author(s)

Paul DiMaggio Paul DiMaggio (Princeton University)

Joseph Cohen Joseph Cohen (Princeton University)

Abstract

This paper sheds light on whether intergroup inequality in Internet access is likely to persist as the diffusion process continues. To what extent is a given level of inequality in technology diffusion (e.g., use of the Internet) a long-term policy challenge or a temporary inconvenience? What general factors account for group-specific patterns of technology adoption? This paper draws on notions of network externalities to help answer this question. It also presents findings from a comparative analysis of household adoption of television from 1948 to 1957 and the Internet from 1994 to 2002.

Creation Date

2003-10

Section URL ID

CACPS

Paper Number

31

URL

https://culturalpolicy.princeton.edu/sites/culturalpolicy/files/wp31-dimaggio.pdf

File Function

Jel

Z11, L86, L82

Keyword(s)

Television; Internet

Suppress

false

Series

6