Institutions and broadband internet diffusion in emerging economies: Lessons from Korea and China

Abstract

We explore the role of institutions in facilitating rapid broadband Internet diffusion in emerging economies. We focus on the interplay between State influence (including educational programs and promotion policies) and market influence (supply and demand conditions) and use the cases of Korea and China as our empirical context. The cases suggest that the configuration of institutional arrangements has an important role to play in facilitating broadband Internet diffusion in emerging economies, above and beyond overall levels of institutional quality and the presence of technological infrastructure. The case data suggests that configuration and coordination between country-level institutional arrangements determine differences in the paths and outcomes of broadband Internet development in emerging economies.

Keywords:

• broadband internet diffusion
• institutions
• Korea
• China