Computerization of Polish Households in Social Structural Perspective: a Dynamic Analysis of the Informatization Process over 20 years

This article, as a continuation of our previous paper Stability and Change in Household Computer Possession in Poland: Analysis of Structural Determinants, expresses the results from a set of analyses that had the following goals: 1) to describe the nature and process of informatization in Poland from 1988 to 2008; 2) to understand the factors that contribute to the digital divide in Poland; and 3) to contribute to the theoretical discourses on social dynamics and modernization. Studying the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Poland is useful for both theoretical and methodological reasons. In 1988 the penetration of digital technology was low, however in 20 years since then, informatization has progressed to the point where it is on par with the rest of Western Europe and North America. This provides a good opportunity for examining the factors associated with the digital divide. Furthermore, as Poland developed intensely over a short period of time, it is likely to demonstrate a pattern similar to those countries which will go through the digital revolution in coming decades.