Information and Communication Technologies of households and individuals, geographical proximity and regional competitiveness: distribution, clusters and spatial patterns of technological capacity in Europe

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