Author ORCID Identifier
Xitong Li: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3702-8987
Peiming He: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8755-9995
Xuelu Xu: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2095-1914
Qinyang Yao: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7130-6218
Qingting Tang: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1803-8275
Litai Chen: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7802-537X
Abstract
The impact of ICT infrastructure on urban-rural educational inequality has become an increasingly salient issue in development research. While ICT is widely viewed as a tool for reducing such disparities, debate persists over whether it bridges or reinforces the urban-rural divide. Grounded in the “Access Divide—Usage Divide—Outcome Divide” framework of the digital divide, this study explores the relationship between ICT infrastructure and urban-rural educational inequality within the ICT for Development (ICT4D) paradigm. Using China’s “Broadband China” policy as a quasi-natural experiment, it applies an Intensity Difference-in-Differences model to address endogeneity concerns. Results show that ICT infrastructure significantly reduces inequality, with effects amplified by the availability of teaching computers and students’ Internet learning. The impact also varies depending on the level of traditional infrastructure and educational stage. This study contributes to ICT4D by offering empirical evidence on how ICT infrastructure shapes educational equity and highlighting the importance of heterogeneity analysis for policy design.
Recommended Citation
Li, X.,
He, P.,
Xu, X.,
Yao, Q.,
Tang, Q.,
&
Chen, L.
(In press).
Tackling Educational Inequality in Development: The Role of ICT Infrastructure in Bridging the Urban–rural Divide in China.
Information Technology for Development.
Available at:
https://aisel.aisnet.org/itd/vol32/iss2/19