Information society : Poland in comparison with the European Union

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the level of development of the information society in Poland in the context of the development of this phenomenon in EU countries and to identify areas requiring intervention by state and local government bodies.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The following research methods were used to achieve the stated aim of the paper: critical analysis of the literature on the subject, causal analysis method, comparative analysis method and case study method.

CONCLUSIONS: The analysis conducted shows that the basic indicators characterising the information society in Poland do not differ from the level of the EU countries. The problem that will determine further development is the existence of a relatively large percentage of people who do not use the Internet and do not have basic digital skills. This state of affairs makes it impossible for these people to fulfil their social and economic functions and thus to participate actively in the information society.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study can provide important information for state and local authorities and the regulator of the electronic communications market in Poland, shaping activities in the development of the information society.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The research conducted in this article contributes to the discussion on the formation of the information society in Poland and the directions of its further development.