An Analysis of the Socioeconomic Impact of Technology Access.

In recent years, various initiatives have been pioneered to ensure that populations have access to computer technology, which induces greater communication and allows people to interact with the Internet. Ideally, in this age of technology, everyone should have access to computers, as it is widely assumed that technology usage directly translates into increased economic improvement. As the technology divide is filled over time, increases in access to technology should have a positive net effect on economic growth and opportunity. However, such far-reaching predictions need to be verified through data analysis. Surprisingly, the available literature is limited regarding outcome analyses of technology initiatives. In this work, we present a study to determine if conjectures regarding technology access have merit. We have analyzed various datasets believed to be reliable indicators for economic analyses. Specifically, we examine poverty rates, high school and college graduation rates, and average household incomes in the United States from 1997 to the present. While such datasets are not devoid of challenges, given the volatility and unpredictability of US economic data, we have determined that access to technology predicts a decrease in the poverty rate. Specifically, our correlation analyses indicate a causal relationship between access to technology and a decreased poverty rate within the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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