Wired for Wellness: A Difference‐In‐Differences Assessment of Health and Healthcare Use Outcomes From China's Internet Speedup Initiative

Meng Gao, Tianyuan Luo, Vahé Heboyan and Gianluca De Leo

Review of Development Economics, 2026, vol. 30, issue 2, 1248-1264

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of internet access on individual health outcomes and healthcare utilization. We use a difference‐in‐differences approach, exploiting variation in community exposure to China's Internet Speedup Initiative. Employing data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, we find that increased internet access reduces the probability of individuals reporting sickness and poor health, and leads to decreased healthcare utilization. The findings reveal that urban residents experience changes in their health and healthcare use outcomes following greater internet access, while rural residents witness no such effects. Furthermore, the impact is more pronounced for females, younger individuals, those with higher education or income, residing in more developed regions, with higher digital health literacy and from Han households. Applying DID specifications supplemented by IV methods, we reveal that the health benefits of the internet are attributable to increased likelihood of employment, higher individual and household incomes, reduced likelihood of obesity and overweight, and the promotion of preventive health services and physical activities. Our research highlights the need to improve internet infrastructure and implement targeted digital policies to enhance population health and mitigate health inequities.

Date: 2026
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