Rising Despite the Odds: Analyzing ICT Diffusion and Regional Breakthroughs in Mainland China, 2011-2022
2024
Hu, Lanxin
This thesis explores the dynamic relationship between the diffusion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and regional development in mainland China from 2011 to 2022, with a particular focus on how lagging regions can achieve development through ICT. The thesis employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, analyzing the number of employees in the ICT service industry over this period, and delves deeply into the unique path of ICT diffusion and development in Sichuan Province through a case study, combining statistical data, ethnography and interviews. The theoretical framework is primarily inspired by neo-Schumpeterian thoughts, emphasizing the role of technological innovation and diffusion in regional economic development while considering the institutional background of the regions. And bridging technology and regional development through diffusion theories that highlight micro perspective and temporal wisdom. Finally we find that ICT diffusion in mainland China exhibits a clear hierarchical pattern. Leading regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong benefit first from advanced ICT, while some lagging regions also make significant progress in the ICT field. Sichuan Province is a typical case where labor mobility, i.e., individuals moving to higher-tier regions to acquire ICT skills and then returning to Sichuan, has driven local development. This indicates that while economically developed region naturally attract and benefit from new technologies, underdeveloped regions can also make breakthroughs in adopting ICT by strategically utilizing human capital and local potential.
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