The Welfare Effects of Mobile Broadband Internet: Evidence from Nigeria

Kalvin Bahia, Pau Castells, Genaro Cruz (), Takaaki Masaki (), Xavier Pedros, Tobias Pfutze, Carlos Rodriguez Castelan () and Hernan Winkler
Additional contact information
Kalvin Bahia: GSMA
Pau Castells: GSMA
Genaro Cruz: GSMA
Takaaki Masaki: World Bank
Carlos Rodriguez Castelan: World Bank
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Carlos Rodríguez-Castelán

No 13219, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper estimates the impacts of mobile broadband coverage on household consumption and poverty in Nigeria, the largest economy and mobile broadband market in Africa. The analysis exploits a unique dataset that integrates three waves of a nationally representative longitudinal household survey on living standards with information from Nigerian mobile operators on the deployment of mobile broadband (3G and 4G) coverage between 2010 and 2016. The estimates show that mobile broadband coverage had large and positive impacts on household consumption levels which increased over time, although at a decreasing rate. Mobile broadband coverage also reduces the proportion of households below the poverty line, driven by higher food and non-food consumption in rural households. These effects are mainly due to an increase in labor force participation and employment, particularly among women.

Keywords: poverty; household consumption; mobile broadband; Africa; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 F63 I31 L86 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 46 pages
Date: 2020-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-ict, nep-pay and nep-reg
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The welfare effects of mobile broadband internet: Evidence from Nigeria (2024)
Working Paper: The Welfare Effects of Mobile Broadband Internet: Evidence from Nigeria (2020)
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