The virtual dimension of socio-economic relations in European countries

• Published in: Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization and Management Series
• Main Author: Witczak-Roszkowska, Danuta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Politechnika Śląska. Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej 2020
• Subjects: demo; manag; Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.29119/1641-3466.2020.146.36; https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/1919019.pdf; https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/1919019

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to assess the level of use of information technologies by households in selected European countries and the resulting transformations in socio-economic relations. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses one of the taxonomic methods – the Hellwig’s development pattern method. 20 diagnostic features were adopted to develop Hellwig’s synthetic measure. They reflect the access and use of the Internet by households in five areas: networking and formal activities in the fields of e-government, e-banking, e-education, e-health; carrying out political and civic activities online (consulting, voting, expressing opinions); making informal contacts and participating in social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.); e-commerce; using instant messaging and e-mail. Findings: In the light of the characteristics adopted for the survey, the highest level of use of information technology by households is characteristic of Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Finland. The countries with the lowest rates are Romania and Bulgaria. Research limitations/implications: The studies presented may contribute to further in-depth analyses of the links between the use of information technologies in individual countries and their level of economic development in the long term. Originality/value: The results are addressed to public authorities in 30 European countries. On their basis, leaders in the use of information technologies by households in various areas of economic and social life were identified. The distance between the other countries was also diagnosed. The results of the research can guide public authorities in developing strategies for the development and dissemination of information technologies in their countries.