Does ICT in schools affect residential adoption and adult utilization outside schools?

• Published in: Telecommunications policy 2013-07, Vol.37 (6-7), p.540-562
• Main Authors: Tengtrakul, Pitikorn, Peha, Jon M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Households; ICT adoption; ICT in school; ICT in Thailand; ICT utilization; Information technology; Internet; Schools; Spillover effect; Studies; Technology adoption; Telecommunications policy; User behavior
• ISSN: 0308-5961; 1879-3258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2013.01.002

Policymakers around the world are considering whether to invest in putting information and communication technology (ICT) in schools, and how. While educational impact is likely to be the primary objective, such investments can also affect residential adoption and adult utilization of ICT in the communities, thereby reducing the digital divide. Using a census survey of Thailand for a time when ICT was available in roughly half of the nation’s schools, this study employs logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) to show that placing ICT in schools does have significant spill-over effects outside schools. This effect is larger for ICT in primary schools than secondary schools, and larger in schools with both Internet and computers than schools with just computers. The effects are observed in households of all incomes and educational levels. Considering these spill-over effects when allocating resources should lead to greater welfare gains for the amount of resources spent. The study also finds that there is a sizable portion of the adult population that chooses not to use ICT even after adopting this ICT in their households for their children, thereby eliminating any barriers to use related to cost and convenience. For this group, policy-makers should seek ways to decrease other impediments to ICT use, such as increasing ICT literacy through training. ► Putting ICT in K-12 schools has spill-over effects on residential adoption of ICT and use of ICT by adults. ► Many families get computers and Internet in the home for their kids, but adults do not use this ICT. ► Spill-over effects of ICT in schools are greatest for primary school. ► Spill-over effects do not depend on household income or education of head of household. ► Putting computers and Internet in schools has greater spill-over effects than computers alone.