Influences of Digital Transformation on Life Expectancy and the Gender Gap in European Countries

ABSTRACT

The paper empirically examines the influence of the digital transformation process on life expectancy by employing a sample of 20 European countries over the period from 2015 to 2020. In the models, digitalization is captured by six measures. The results illustrate that using the internet and online activities reduces life expectancy, whereas business digitization, e-commerce, digital public services, and higher digital skills in the population can improve the life expectancy of men and women, leading to a reduction in the gender gap. Furthermore, the authors detect that men are significantly more affected by the implementation of digital transformation, while online administrative procedures also lead to a rise in life expectancy but only in women. These effects only exist in the long term. They also find that digital connectivity, business digitization, e-commerce, and digital skills help people survive longer during the COVID-19 pandemic.