Activity Participation and Time Use Behavior in Mumbai, India: Impact of Information and Communication Technologies in a Disparate World

Activity participation is an inherent part of human behavior, it provides opportunities to earn, take care of one’s personal well-being, and improve one’s overall quality of life. However, different aspects of social exclusion can curb participation. This study analyzes the impact of accessibility induced social exclusion parameters on activity participation and time use behavior, with a special focus on information and communication technology's (ICT’s) potential to improve access to activities. Four factors were extracted using exploratory factor analysis showcasing varying levels of access to ICT, access to infrastructure services, purchasing ability, and access to leisure services. The impact of these factors along with certain other socio-economic parameters were tested on activity participation and time allocation behavior by constructing type II Tobit models. Findings suggest that high ICT access increases both participation and time allocation in virtual activities, whereas reduced access to infrastructure and leisure services increases in-home participation. It is also observed that the lack of physical access to opportunities is being compensated by increased participation in virtual activities through means of higher access to ICT. The findings also highlight the disparate nature of participation in virtual activities by females and individuals living under poor housing conditions. The study establishes the need to recognize disparate access to ICT as an aspect of social exclusion before considering ICT as a potential tool to reduce exclusion. Finally, certain policy implications like providing internet enabled mobile phones, public internet centers, and low cost internet to disadvantaged groups which can reduce ICT based social exclusion are discussed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB20 Standing Committee on Effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Travel Choices. Alternate title: Activity Participation and Time Use Behavior in Mumbai: Impact of Information and Communication Technologies in a Disparate World.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Varghese, Varun
  • Jana, Arnab
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
• Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Access; Developing countries; Telecommunications
• Uncontrolled Terms: Activity participation; Social exclusion; Time use; Tobit models
• Geographic Terms: Mumbai (India)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01631705
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 17-04350
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 1 2017 10:45PM