Internet Usage in African Countries

Internet usage in African countries:
Empirical study on the antecedents of internet usage in developing countries

Tilburg University


Abstract

This research first investigates the relationship between the gross national product and the amount of internet users (per 1000 people) in the 51 sample countries from Africa. It indicates that the outlier countries in this case, i.e. countries that have an extraordinary high amount (in this case the outliers were all above the best-fit line) of internet users compared to their GDP / capita, from the sample are Seychelles and Sao Tome and Principe.

After the investigation to find the outlier countries a short description of these countries is given, presenting the relevant data regarding these countries. Furthermore an investigation into the possible relevant factors affecting the number of internet users is done. These factors are found to be: country area, urbanization, trade, GDP composition by sector, education spending, literacy, and the business climate prevailing in the country.

This research showed that the main factors relating to the unusually high internet usage in these countries had some common elements as well as some country related factors. The main factors in both of the cases were found to be the relatively small country size, urbanization, and the fact that large part of their GDP comes from the service industry. Other common factor was found to be the generally open business climate in both of the countries. For Seychelles also amount of tourist arrivals and the international trade were found to have an impact on the high internet usage.
Table of contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction 4
1.1 Motivation of the research 4
1.2 Research goals and relevance 4
1.3 Problem definition 4
1.3.1 Research questions 4
1.4 Demarcations 5
1.5 Report Structure 5
Chapter 2 – Sample 6
2.1 Chosen Sample 6
2.2 Data gathering and the reliability of data... [continues]

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