Communication technology and culture: Analysing selected cultural dimensions and human development indicators

This article analyses two of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, individualism–­collectivism and masculinity–femininity, and selected indicators of the Human Development Report (HDR). Specifically analysed in the HDR are three communication technology indicators, cell phone subscription, Internet use and the number of telephone mainlines, as they can measure the wealth or development of a country. We contend that while Hofstede has examined cultural variations across 53 nations, there is a dearth of empirical studies examining the relationship between Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and communication technology. Results indicate a positive correlation between individualism and communication technology. Likewise, we found a positive correlation between individualism and human development. Conversely, no correlation was found between masculinity–femininity and communication technology, and no correlation was found between masculinity–femininity and human development.