Using domain names as indicators of the diffusion of the Internet

This paper reports about the construction of a database containing daily observations on registrations of domain names underneath the "it" ccTLD in order to analyse the diffusion of Internet among families and businesses. The section of the database referring to domains registered by individuals is analysed. The penetration rate over the relevant population of potential adopters is computed at highly disaggregated geographical level (province). A concentration analysis is carried out to investigate whether the geographical distribution of Internet is less concentrated than population and income suggesting a diffusive effect. Regression analysis is carried out using social and economic indicators. At the present we are building up a database containing domains registered by firms together with data about the registrants; the idea is to use this new database and the previous one in order to deeply investigate the adoption and diffusion of Internet in Italy.