Digital transformation, well-being and shrinking communities : Narrowing the divides between urban and rural

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Access rights

openAccess

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2023-08

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

13

Series

Heliyon, Volume 9, issue 8

Abstract

The ongoing digital transformation and the digitalisation of services profoundly affect the everyday lives of citizens. Digital transformation's impact is complex and may have both positive and negative consequences on well-being. Particularly in rural areas and shrinking communities, digitalisation and the concentration of services can diminish the level of local services, but digital transformation also promises significant opportunities and benefits to the residents of shrinking and rural communities. This study employed the environmental scanning and futures wheel methodologies to assess the current and future impact of digital transformation and information and communications technology on residents' well-being in shrinking Finnish communities. The results indicate that this impact is more positive than negative, as digitalisation enables multiple services that were previously lacking in these locations. Digitalisation and the rise of remote working can also bring new opportunities and residents to rural and shrinking communities.

Description

Funding Information: Open access funded by Helsinki University Library . Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

Keywords

Digitalisation, ICT, Remote services, Shrinking communities, Wellbeing

Other note

Citation

Kiviaho, A & Einolander, J 2023, ' Digital transformation, well-being and shrinking communities : Narrowing the divides between urban and rural ', Heliyon, vol. 9, no. 8, e18801 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18801