Socioeconomic Factors Affecting the Adoption of Digital Devices at Household Level in Pakistan

Abstract

The effective use of digital devices has become an essential part of modern life. This study explores the socioeconomic determinants of the adoption of digital devices in Pakistan. The data has been obtained from the Pakistan Social Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) survey 2019–2020. A binary logistic regression model has been used. The dependent variable is the household adoption of digital devices i.e. computers, laptops, and tablets/iPads. Socioeconomic and demographic variables have been used as explanatory variables in the regression. The results conclude that the household adoption of digital devices is influenced by socioeconomic and demographic factors including gender, income, schooling years, and age. Receiving foreign remittances emerged as a positive predictor of the adoption of digital devices. Surprisingly, employed individuals are less likely to use digital devices. The study also highlighted a few behavioral factors that affect the adoption of digital devices. These factors i.e. lack of accessibility and affordability of devices, fears regarding security, and challenges associated with digital literacy, negatively affect the adoption of digital devices. Digital divide and digital inclusion have been studied for different economies due to their perceived benefits in modern lifestyles. As per our information, such household level analysis for Pakistan has not been performed. Pakistan has a lot of space for improvement in ICT infrastructure and accessibility. The study elucidates socioeconomic factors that can influence the implementation of digital technology, providing implications for policymakers, who seek to promote digital inclusion.