Abstract
The aim of the chapter is to highlight different regional approaches to digital inclusion from the social and economic aspects by academic researchers. The chapter presents the concept of digital literacy and digital inclusion and social and economic benefits in some European countries. The research observes individual European countries in which digital literacy with incorporated digital inclusion is equally important. The subject of the research will be digital inclusion on a regional level with an emphasis on the social, economic component in Denmark, Greece, and Serbia. The use of digital technology creates an opportunity for better public service in various sectors, especially in education, health, e-government, etc., which would favor better inclusion of the poor and socially disadvantaged. Technological transformation has contributed to the introduction of the most developed information and communication technologies (ICT) in a large number of countries in Europe and other countries around the world.
TopIntroduction
The United Nations adopted Resolution 56/183 in 2001, which adopted the World Summit on the Information Society, in two phases. During the first Summit in Geneva in 2003, goals were set to take measures with political support to build an information society “for all”. In the second phase, at the second meeting of the Summit in Tunis in 2005, the need to activate the Geneva Action Plan, as well as to reach an agreement on Internet governance, to achieve an inclusive and development-oriented information society, in which everyone has the right to create and exchange information (UN, 2020a). Digital portals create opportunities for online education, e-courses, as well as for people with disabilities to work from home and increase opportunities for the inclusion of non-digital populations (ITU, 2021). In March 2018, the European Parliament - Department for Civil Rights and Constitutional Affairs Policies published a study “Basic Causes of Digital Gender Difference and Possible Solutions for Improved Digital Inclusion of Women and Girls”. The study highlights the need to address the exclusion of women in terms of access to information technology. The idea of the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) is that everyone in Europe has equal access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital skills, to halt the growing trend of inequalities and disparities in access to education, services, and information; to reduce the digital divide between the rich who have resources and the poor who have little or no resources. The extent to which some countries formulate and implement digital inclusion in their documents cannot be fully explained. In addition, it is debatable how countries report on the implementation of policies related to access, literacy, awareness, and engagement (Helsper, 2014).
Based on research by Dutta and Lanvin (2020), in 2019, about two-thirds of the world's population owned a mobile phone, and just over 55 percent of the world's population had access to the Internet. It is pointed out that with the prevailing technology and at current rates of increase, it will take another 50 years for the whole world to be digitized. According to Dijk (2017), barriers to digital inclusion are: (1) access; (2) skill and (3) attitude. Approaches are different: 1. motivational - use of digital technology, 2. material (physical) approach - possession of a computer device and Internet connection, 3. access to skills - possession of digital skills. Inclusion from the social aspect and digital infrastructure is not satisfactory in Serbia. A large number of students, especially in rural and impoverished areas, are at a disadvantage. They do not have computers or adequate digital infrastructure. The digital divide and inequality are also seen in other vulnerable groups such as the elderly population who do not have enough education or the digital literacy to access online public services. Limited services to the socially vulnerable population in the field of e-health, e-education, or online services of public companies continuously deepen the digital divide and inequality. This chapter will discuss opportunities to support the digital inclusion of vulnerable and poor people in Serbia.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Digital Transformation: Is a process that aims to improve an entity by triggering significant changes to its properties through combinations of information, computing, communication, and connectivity technologies is generally taking place in all spheres of our life and affects everyone from babies to the elderly; for sure, it is not confined only to organizations and the workplace anymore.
DESI (Digital Economy and Society Index): Is a composite index that summarizes relevant indicators on Europe’s digital performance and tracks the evolution of EU member states across five main dimensions: Connectivity, Human Capital, Use of the Internet, Integration of Digital Technology, Digital Public Services.
ICT Development: Is the level of ICT infrastructure. Using, adopting, and adapting frontier technologies require sufficient ICT infrastructure, especially since AI, IoT, big data, and blockchain are internet-based technologies.
Digital inclusion: Is a growing technology in modern life that is of great importance for access to all in areas such as employment, government, education, civic participation, socialization and include elements: 1. Digital division (gap in terms of socio-economic status), 2. Digital literacy, which includes digital knowledge, and 3. Promotional policy for the development of digital education.
Digital Divide: Refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels concerning both their opportunities to access information and communication technologies (ICTs) and to their use of the internet for a wide variety of activities.
E-Government: Is the use of technological communications devices, to provide public services to citizens and other persons in a country or region. E-government offers new opportunities for more direct and convenient citizen access to government, and government provision of services directly to citizens.