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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been consolidated as a fundamental pillar of the new model of competitiveness and sustainable development of territories. However, there has still not been sufficient in-depth study of the role that geographical proximity plays in the digital inequalities that affect regional competitiveness. In this context, this paper aims to identify and characterise the clusters and patterns that define the spatial behaviour of ICT access and usage variables at household and individual level in the Technology Readiness (TR) pillar of the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI). A database of 280 NUTS2 has been created in order to perform: i) an exploratory statistical analysis to show the regional behaviour of the ICT variables; and ii) a spatial autocorrelation analysis to detect the presence of spatial dependence. The results at regional level in Europe demonstrate that: i) the greatest inequalities occur in the ICT usage variables and not in those of access; ii) the indicators of TR create a spatial pattern with a gradient from the regions of the extreme north-west to south-western and eastern Europe; and iii) there is evidently an opportunity to incorporate other regional variables of ICT usage for future editions of the RCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recent studies show the existence of spatial inequalities between northern, southern, and eastern Europe in the provision and use of ICT infrastructure by households and individuals. Previous studies have been carried out at national levels or for rural-urban areas without analysing the existence of spatial distribution patterns. The objective is to identify spatial patterns of ICT use in households and individuals at a regional level in Europe. The research is carried out with two complex variables: 'availability of broadband and daily use for commerce, banking, and e-government' or transactional use; and, 'use of social networks by broadband' or relational use. With 233 NUT 2, the following is analysed: a) distribution and statistical dispersion of the degree of variability of ICT use; and 2) spatial autocorrelation with GIS to identify spatial patterns by calculating Moran's I and Getis-Ord global indexes, Moran's local Anselin, and Getis-Ord Gi*. The result is that the relational use shows similar values among European regions with a uniform territorial distribution; and the spatial component is not a factor of equal magnitude for the transactional variable (which shows a spatial pattern featuring a northwest-southeast gradient). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Van Leeuwen E. S. and Rietveld P. Spatial consumer behaviour in small and medium-sized towns, Regional Studies. Small and medium-sized towns are often recognized as important components of the rural economy. This paper focuses on the current function of small and medium-sized towns in providing retail services to local households in five European countries. Furthermore, it analyses the spatial shopping behaviour of these households. It appears that towns are still important places for shopping: more than half of the purchases of households living in town or the direct hinterland are bought in town. [image omitted] Van Leeuwen E. S. et Rietveld P. Le comportement geographique du consommateur dans les villes petites et moyennes, Regional Studies. Les villes petites et moyennes sont souvent considerees comme d'importants rouages de l'economie rurale. Cet article porte sur la fonction actuelle des villes petites et moyennes comme pourvoyeuses du commerce de detail aux menages locaux dans cinq pays europeens. Qui plus est, on analyse le comportement commercial geographique de ces menages. Il semble que les villes sont toujours d'importants endroits ou on fait les courses: plus de la moitie des achats des menages qui habitent les villes ou l'arriere-pays immediat se font dans les villes. Comportement commercial Villes Analyse geographique Choix discret Faire les courses au dehors de la ville Van Leeuwen E. S. und Rietveld P. Raumliches Verbraucherverhalten in kleinen und mittelgrossen Stadten, Regional Studies. Kleine und mittelgrosse Stadte werden oft als wichtige Komponenten der Wirtschaft im landlichen Raum anerkannt. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir die momentane Funktion von kleinen und mittelgrossen Stadten hinsichtlich des Anbietens von Einzelhandelsdiensten fur lokale Haushalte in funf europaischen Landern. Daruber hinaus wird das raumliche Einkaufsverhalten dieser Haushalte analysiert. Es hat den Anschein, dass es sich bei den Stadten nach wie vor um wichtige Einkaufsorte handelt: Mehr als die Halfte der Einkaufe von Haushalten, die in der Stadt oder im unmittelbaren Hinterland leben, werden in der Stadt getatigt. Einkaufsverhalten Stadte Raumanalyse Discrete Choice Auswarts einkaufen Van Leeuwen E. S. y Rietveld P. Comportamiento espacial de compra en ciudades pequenas y medianas, Regional Studies. Con frecuencia se reconoce que las ciudades pequenas y medianas son componentes importantes en la economia rural. En este articulo analizamos la funcion actual de las ciudades pequenas y medianas de cinco paises europeos en cuanto a sus servicios minoristas a hogares locales. Asimismo analizamos el comportamiento espacial de compra en estos hogares. Parece ser que este tipo de ciudades todavia son centros importantes de compra: mas de la mitad de las compras de personas que viven en ciudades o directamente en el interior se hacen en las ciudades. Comportamiento de compra Municipios Analisis espacial Eleccion discreta Compras fuera del centro [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]