Determinants of Expenditure on Communication in Rural Households

Abstract

The aim of the study was to present the level, structure and determinants of expenditure on communication in Polish households, with a special emphasis on rural households. The aim was also to show the changes in terms of access to the Internet and use its functions in households in the years 2005-2014. Research material were data from the Central Statistical Office. Data from household budget surveys were canonical correlation analysis. It was found that in the cities re-corded higher spending on communication as compared to rural areas. In the structure of expenditure on communication are the biggest telecommunication service charges. The most important determinants of spending on telecommunications services in rural households are household size and disposable income per capita. In households with dependent children were more spending on telecommunications services than older households. The strongest determinant of postal services in rural households had a higher level of education of the head of the family. Access to the Internet and use it in households is increasingly common, and the share of rural households with internet access has a greater growth rate than urban households. Interest in e-purchases from year to year also increased at a faster rate in rural areas than in urban households.