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Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience

Jonathan Morris Orcid Logo, Wyn Morris Orcid Logo, Robert Bowen

Journal of Rural Studies, Volume: 89, Pages: 369 - 377

Swansea University Author: Robert Bowen

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.01.005

Abstract

This paper examines the implications of the ‘digital divide’ on the capabilities for Small and Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) to operate in the face of challenging economic times, such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Previous research has shown that rural businesses, especially SMEs, are more impacted...

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Published in: Journal of Rural Studies
ISSN: 0743-0167
Published: Elsevier BV 2022
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59149
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first_indexed 2022-01-11T10:58:27Z
last_indexed 2023-01-11T14:40:13Z
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spelling 2022-09-06T12:39:21.8952137 v2 59149 2022-01-11 Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience 6bb9d2aaad27adeef4e3c5f5e0572344 Robert Bowen Robert Bowen true false 2022-01-11 This paper examines the implications of the ‘digital divide’ on the capabilities for Small and Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) to operate in the face of challenging economic times, such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Previous research has shown that rural businesses, especially SMEs, are more impacted by lower levels of digital connectivity than those in urban areas, with this digital divide affecting business' entrepreneurial activity. Using data from a survey of 110 businesses in Wales, the paper investigates the barriers and opportunities associated with the accessibility of high-speed broadband services and its impact on business decisions. Findings show that digital connectivity across rural areas of Wales has improved due to infrastructure investments; however, many businesses were still without reliable digital connections. Logistic regression findings show that location and distance to urban areas are significant variables relating to satisfactory levels of digital connectivity, with the impact of these more evident in rural areas. The implications of which are reduced opportunities for businesses to pursue diversified activities, limiting the ability of these businesses to develop resilience in economically challenging times. Furthermore, the paper considers how the Coronavirus pandemic has driven many business activities online, therefore businesses with less reliable access to digital connectivity and lacking an online presence are likely to be more constrained in their ability to be resilient. Journal Article Journal of Rural Studies 89 369 377 Elsevier BV 0743-0167 Digital divide; Business resilience; Coronavirus pandemic; Rural economy; SME 13 1 2022 2022-01-13 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.01.005 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) 2022-09-06T12:39:21.8952137 2022-01-11T10:52:23.2312512 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Management - Business Management Jonathan Morris 0000-0002-2945-8651 1 Wyn Morris 0000-0003-4355-2211 2 Robert Bowen 3 59149__24107__74bc4c544492463abb38d46010a35e4d.pdf 59149_VoR.pdf 2022-05-17T12:19:50.0338767 Output 912343 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2022 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
spellingShingle Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
Robert Bowen
title_short Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
title_full Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
title_fullStr Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
title_full_unstemmed Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
title_sort Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
author_id_str_mv 6bb9d2aaad27adeef4e3c5f5e0572344
author_id_fullname_str_mv 6bb9d2aaad27adeef4e3c5f5e0572344_***_Robert Bowen
author Robert Bowen
author2 Jonathan Morris
Wyn Morris
Robert Bowen
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Rural Studies
container_volume 89
container_start_page 369
publishDate 2022
institution Swansea University
issn 0743-0167
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.01.005
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Management - Business Management{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Management - Business Management
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description This paper examines the implications of the ‘digital divide’ on the capabilities for Small and Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) to operate in the face of challenging economic times, such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Previous research has shown that rural businesses, especially SMEs, are more impacted by lower levels of digital connectivity than those in urban areas, with this digital divide affecting business' entrepreneurial activity. Using data from a survey of 110 businesses in Wales, the paper investigates the barriers and opportunities associated with the accessibility of high-speed broadband services and its impact on business decisions. Findings show that digital connectivity across rural areas of Wales has improved due to infrastructure investments; however, many businesses were still without reliable digital connections. Logistic regression findings show that location and distance to urban areas are significant variables relating to satisfactory levels of digital connectivity, with the impact of these more evident in rural areas. The implications of which are reduced opportunities for businesses to pursue diversified activities, limiting the ability of these businesses to develop resilience in economically challenging times. Furthermore, the paper considers how the Coronavirus pandemic has driven many business activities online, therefore businesses with less reliable access to digital connectivity and lacking an online presence are likely to be more constrained in their ability to be resilient.
published_date 2022-01-13T04:16:14Z
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score 11.016258

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