DIGITAL INEQUALITY AS A PREREQUISITE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIFFERENTIATION OF SOCIETY

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the article is to study the current state of digital inequality, factors of influence and trends in its transformation as a component of socio-economic differentiation of the population in the world and in Ukraine in order to to make optimal management decisions. The theoretical significance of the article is that it was generalized and systematized a prerequisite of socio-economic inequality — digitalization. Socio-economic factors of digital inequality are highlighted. The contradictory nature of digital wealth is shown. The interrelation between economic growth and key indicators of digital inequality is revealed. Based on statistical indicators, the problems of digital inequality and the degree of its relevance for Ukraine are highlighted. In the article digital inequality is seen as a dynamic threat that simultaneously extends to all spheres of society, broad sections of the population and has quantitative and qualitative characteristics. It is proved that the processes of digitalization, on which serious hopes were placed, do not lead to the equalization of economic potential and social structure, but are able to intensify the level of digital inequality. There are various direct and inverse interactions between digital inequality and the level of the socio-economic development in society. Not only the spread of information and communication technologies and socio-economic restrictions on access to them affect the economy and the labor market. In turn, the level of information and digital inequality affects all spheres of society and economic development of the country. The results of the study reveal the relationship between economic growth, key indicators and factors of digital inequality, allow for constant monitoring of the level of digital differentiation of Ukrainian society in order to identify and eliminate bottlenecks at different levels of governance. Keywords: information society, information, digital inequality, digital divide, digital inequality factors, information poverty, information wealth. JEL Classification A12, I31 Formulas: 0; fig.: 0; tabl.: 0; bibl.: 21.

Keywords

• information society
• information
• digital inequality
• digital divide
• digital inequality factors
• information poverty