Israel ranks 11th place out of 32 countries included in sample survey.
Fifteen per cent of Israeli citizens have a home computer, a higher rate than Taiwan, Italy and Portugal. This emerges from a comparative survey conducted by the economic weekly "The Economist". Israel ranks in the top third of the table, and takes 11th place out of 32 countries included in the sample.
"The Economist" attaches great significance to the rate of owning home computers, viewing it as an indication of each country’s standard of economic activity and future standard of development.
The US ranks top of the list, with 40% of the population owning home computers.
"The Economist" indicates a curb in the increase of home computers in the US, following the rapid growth recorded in recent years. This is because of the high cost of connection to the Internet and the increasing sophistication of personal computers. On the other hand, a rapid growth is marked in the number of personal computers owned in Israel and other emerging markets. The weekly estimates an annual increase of 12% in the number of personal computers owned in emerging market countries.
Published by Israel's Business Arena August 18, 1998.