Exploring institutional influences on society-level technology use: A comparison study of the USA and South Korea

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, many national and municipal governments implemented digital vaccination passport/certificate (DVC) programs at a societal level. This paper explores institutional influences on society-level technology adoption and use by empirically investigating DVC use behavior in the USA and South Korea. We identify institutional factors and compare their impacts on DVC use in these two nations. The study examines how institutional factors influence societal-level adoption of technology, moving beyond individual-level factors based on rational choice theory. We use survey data from 346 DVC users in the USA and South Korea, which we analyze it using a structural equation model to provide empirical insights into such large-scale, society-level systems. The findings reveal that institution-based trust, reflecting the regulative pillar of institutional theory, is a significant factor in the USA, while subjective norm, representing the cultural-cognitive pillar, is more influential in South Korea. Perceived benefit is an effective rational choice factor in both nations. This research offers both theoretical advancements and practical insights for societal-level technology endeavors.