Computer Use in Small U.S. Firms: Is There a Digital Divide?

This article uses data from the 1998 Survey of Small Business Finances to explore the use of computers and the Internet by small firms. Results reveal that firms owned by black men and firms owned by Asian men were significantly less likely to use computers for business purposes than firms owned by white men. There were no significant differences between firms owned by white men and those owned by white women or by Hispanic men. Other significant predictors of computer use included measures affirm size, firm age, organizational status, owner age, and the educational level of the owner