Palgrave Studies in Digital Inequalities – serie

​Digital Capabilities is a first-of-its-kind exploration of the capabilities that communities in positions of inequality in Israel and the West Bank seek to realize by utilizing information and communication technologies (ICT), the opportunities they have to communicate, and the way ICTs serve their desire to do so. It is the outcome of an eight-year research project in which the nine authors of this book, some of whom came from within the studied communities, conducted their work among the studied populations over an extended period of time. The capabilities approach, much discussed theoretically, takes on a life in this project and is presented as an empirically observable phenomenon for assessing whether ICTs are serving actual needs, whether communication resources are justly allocated and distributed and whether they serve the goal of a universally accessible right to communicate.

​Digital Capabilities is a first-of-its-kind exploration of the capabilities that communities in positions of inequality in Israel and the West Bank seek to realize by utilizing information and communication technologies (ICT), the opportunities they have to communicate, and the way ICTs serve their desire to do so. It is the outcome of an eight-year research project in which the nine authors of this book, some of whom came from within the studied communities, conducted their work among the studied populations over an extended period of time. The capabilities approach, much discussed theoretically, takes on a life in this project and is presented as an empirically observable phenomenon for assessing whether ICTs are serving actual needs, whether communication resources are justly allocated and distributed and whether they serve the goal of a universally accessible right to communicate.

This collection presents policy and research that addresses digital inequalities, access, and skills, from multiple international perspectives.  With a special focus on the impact of the COVID-19, the collection is based on the 2021 Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference, with chapters from both academia and civic organizations.The COVID-19 pandemic has changed citizens’ relationship with digital technologies for the foreseeable future. Many people’s main channels of communication were transferred to digital services, platforms, and apps. Everything ‘went online’: our families, friends, partners, health, work, news, politics, culture, arts and protesting. Yet access to digital technologies remained highly unequal. This brought digital inclusion policy and research to the fore, highlighting to policymakers and the public the ‘hidden’ challenges and impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities. The cutting-edge volume offers research findings and policycase studies that explore digital inclusion from the provision of basic access to digital, via education and digital literacy, and on to issues of gender and technology.  Case studies are drawn from varied sources including the UK, Australia, South America, and Eastern Europe, providing a valuable resource in the pursuit of social equity and justice.​This is an open access book.

This collection presents policy and research that addresses digital inequalities, access, and skills, from multiple international perspectives.  With a special focus on the impact of the COVID-19, the collection is based on the 2021 Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference, with chapters from both academia and civic organizations.The COVID-19 pandemic has changed citizens’ relationship with digital technologies for the foreseeable future. Many people’s main channels of communication were transferred to digital services, platforms, and apps. Everything ‘went online’: our families, friends, partners, health, work, news, politics, culture, arts and protesting. Yet access to digital technologies remained highly unequal. This brought digital inclusion policy and research to the fore, highlighting to policymakers and the public the ‘hidden’ challenges and impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities. The cutting-edge volume offers research findings and policycase studies that explore digital inclusion from the provision of basic access to digital, via education and digital literacy, and on to issues of gender and technology.  Case studies are drawn from varied sources including the UK, Australia, South America, and Eastern Europe, providing a valuable resource in the pursuit of social equity and justice.​This is an open access book.

​This book analyzes and understands the complexity of digital poverty by considering its intersecting nature with socioeconomic and environmental poverty. The rapid digital acceleration that has characterized contemporary society in recent decades, notably accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has profoundly reshaped societal structures and dynamics. Our direction depends on how we integrate digital technologies into social structures, utilize them for environmental protection, and master their use rather than being passive consumers.Digital Environmental Poverty is split into three sections. Section I explores the multidimensional nature of poverty, emphasizing the necessity to view it beyond economic terms, and placing it within the contemporary digital-environmental evolution. Section II focuses on the environmental dimension of poverty. Section III offers case studies illustrating the interplay between social, digital, and environmental poverty. The conclusion provides recommendations to anticipate and mitigate the risk of digital environmental poverty.

​This book analyzes and understands the complexity of digital poverty by considering its intersecting nature with socioeconomic and environmental poverty. The rapid digital acceleration that has characterized contemporary society in recent decades, notably accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has profoundly reshaped societal structures and dynamics. Our direction depends on how we integrate digital technologies into social structures, utilize them for environmental protection, and master their use rather than being passive consumers.Digital Environmental Poverty is split into three sections. Section I explores the multidimensional nature of poverty, emphasizing the necessity to view it beyond economic terms, and placing it within the contemporary digital-environmental evolution. Section II focuses on the environmental dimension of poverty. Section III offers case studies illustrating the interplay between social, digital, and environmental poverty. The conclusion provides recommendations to anticipate and mitigate the risk of digital environmental poverty.

This book will make the case for the introduction of a universal basic income (UBI). The structural logic of the digital economy as presently constituted widens inequality and, through its use of automation for increasingly complex, as well as mundane, tasks, threatens jobs. The book will investigate the extent of this disruption to traditional labour markets and of individual livelihoods, and argue that alternative means of supporting people financially, like UBI, can mitigate the digital economy’s most baleful impacts. The book will also highlight the positive social and environmental benefits that would accrue from the introduction of UBI, as unconditional financial support would reduce workers’ anxiety in insecure labour markets, and the expending of valuable resources would be lessened if energy consumption was determined by society’s needs rather than by the requirements of labour markets tasked primarily with maximising employment. An explanation as to why arguments against its introduction on the grounds of cost and its supposed encouraging of idleness, are, while superficially compelling, ultimately without foundation, will form the centrepiece of the concluding political argument for UBI.

This book will make the case for the introduction of a universal basic income (UBI). The structural logic of the digital economy as presently constituted widens inequality and, through its use of automation for increasingly complex, as well as mundane, tasks, threatens jobs. The book will investigate the extent of this disruption to traditional labour markets and of individual livelihoods, and argue that alternative means of supporting people financially, like UBI, can mitigate the digital economy’s most baleful impacts. The book will also highlight the positive social and environmental benefits that would accrue from the introduction of UBI, as unconditional financial support would reduce workers’ anxiety in insecure labour markets, and the expending of valuable resources would be lessened if energy consumption was determined by society’s needs rather than by the requirements of labour markets tasked primarily with maximising employment. An explanation as to why arguments against its introduction on the grounds of cost and its supposed encouraging of idleness, are, while superficially compelling, ultimately without foundation, will form the centrepiece of the concluding political argument for UBI.

This book provides a thorough investigation of the potential and challenges of older individuals' digital disparities in the context of the digital era. A particular set of challenges prevent the ageing population from efficiently accessing and utilising digital resources as technology becomes more pervasive in contemporary culture. The multidimensional nature of digital disparities is clarified in this work. It explores how these discrepancies affect older people's quality of life, access to healthcare, social connections, and general well-being, taking India as a case study.The book begins by thoroughly summarising demographic trends and changes in technology adoption caused by ageing. It looks at the variables that affect older individuals' propensity to use technology and the effects of their attitudes and perceptions about digital technologies around them. The author investigates the intricate web of access inequities older persons face in a quickly changing digital environment, from internet accessibility to the availability of appropriate digital content. The book also emphasises the need for digital literacy and skills to boost elders' technology involvement. It looks at their challenges when learning and using digital skills, especially in light of how quickly technology develops. The author also explores the effects of digital disparities on older people's physical and mental health, highlighting the demand for specialised therapies and support networks.

This book provides a thorough investigation of the potential and challenges of older individuals' digital disparities in the context of the digital era. A particular set of challenges prevent the ageing population from efficiently accessing and utilising digital resources as technology becomes more pervasive in contemporary culture. The multidimensional nature of digital disparities is clarified in this work. It explores how these discrepancies affect older people's quality of life, access to healthcare, social connections, and general well-being, taking India as a case study.The book begins by thoroughly summarising demographic trends and changes in technology adoption caused by ageing. It looks at the variables that affect older individuals' propensity to use technology and the effects of their attitudes and perceptions about digital technologies around them. The author investigates the intricate web of access inequities older persons face in a quickly changing digital environment, from internet accessibility to the availability of appropriate digital content. The book also emphasises the need for digital literacy and skills to boost elders' technology involvement. It looks at their challenges when learning and using digital skills, especially in light of how quickly technology develops. The author also explores the effects of digital disparities on older people's physical and mental health, highlighting the demand for specialised therapies and support networks.