Advances in Economics and Business Vol. 5(6), pp. 353 - 360
DOI: 10.13189/aeb.2017.050606
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Localized Knowledge Diffusion, Social Interaction Vehicles, Adoption and Uses of Internet in Cameroon

Georges D. Mbondo ^*
Research Group in Theoretical and Applied Economics (GRETA), University of Douala, Cameroon

ABSTRACT

The objective of this article is to show that, since the potential for localized diffusion of knowledge is not the same in Social Interactions Vehicles (SIV), peer effects occurring there cannot play the same role on adoption and use decisions of Internet by households. To do this, we use data from a survey of 2266 individual households carried out in 2015 in the major cities of Cameroon, where we choose Cultural Associations and Tontines (Rotating Organization of savings and credit association, ROSCA) as SIV, to which we apply a probit regression with instrumental variables. Results show that, in Cultural Associations by socio-professional categories where there is a localized diffusion of knowledge, peer effects play a positive role on the likelihood of adoption and use of Internet in Cameroon; In Tontines by these same categories, this role is uncertain. These results contrast with the one commonly known, that ROSCA's frameworks play a positive role on the adoption and use of new technologies. So, it is important for public policies that could use SIV's frameworks for ICT equipment and training policies in general and Internet in particular, convinced by the fact that their appropriation is a source of endogenous growth.

KEYWORDS
Localized Knowledge Diffusion, Technological Adoption and Use, Internet, Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Georges D. Mbondo , "Localized Knowledge Diffusion, Social Interaction Vehicles, Adoption and Uses of Internet in Cameroon," Advances in Economics and Business, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 353 - 360, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/aeb.2017.050606.

(b). APA Format:
Georges D. Mbondo (2017). Localized Knowledge Diffusion, Social Interaction Vehicles, Adoption and Uses of Internet in Cameroon. Advances in Economics and Business, 5(6), 353 - 360. DOI: 10.13189/aeb.2017.050606.