Variations in the adoption and willingness to use e-services in three differentiated urban areas

ABSTRACT

This study analyses electronic service (e-service) adoption in regards to socio-spatial dynamics. Conceptually the paper focuses on the interrelations of both private and public e-services and on the influence that demographic variables have on e-service adoption. To empirically engage in this discussion the study uses segmented residential areas representing different socio-spatial characteristics; namely ‘city center’, ‘high-income suburban’ area, and ‘lower-income suburban’ area. With data from an extensive postal survey and standard statistical methods for analyzing survey data the paper shows the extent of existing differentiation in e-service use between genders and according to age, education and income, as well as spatial differences between the studied residential areas. The study results, thus, clearly indicate that the e-service use has still statistically differentiated user profiles, particularly if it is considered in a spatial setting. The paper concludes by addressing directions for the future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Digitalization
• demographic differences
• electronic services
• electronic governance
• socio-spatial differences

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Tommi Inkinen http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6682-043X

Teemu Makkonen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1065-1806