Perceived importance of digitalization in the European Union: a multilevel analysis of individual and country-level determinants

Digital transformation is a central policy priority, yet its benefits remain unevenly distributed across individuals and countries. Digital inequalities are multidimensional, encompassing both objective aspects, such as access, use, and outcomes, and subjective dimensions, including perceptions, motivation, and behaviours. This article examines the factors associated with individuals’ perceptions of the importance of digitalization, using data from Eurobarometer 99.1. The analysis focuses on socio-demographic characteristics, internet use, attitudinal variables related to digital policies, and the national context. Binary and multilevel logistic regression models are employed to account for both individual and country-level influences. The findings show that perceptions of digitalization are more strongly associated with individual factors than with cross-country differences. Socio-economic characteristics are relevant, with education and income positively associated with the perceived importance of digitalization, while age shows a negative association. Attitudinal variables related to digital education, access, and infrastructure display significant associations. At the country level, the share of individuals with basic digital skills (DESI) is positively associated with the perceived importance of digitalization and explains part of the variation between countries. This study contributes to the literature on digital inequalities by focusing on attitudes towards digitalization and by highlighting the interplay between individual and contextual factors.