Digital access and infectious disease spread

Johannes Kunz, Carol Propper and Trong-Anh Trinh

No 19120, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: Digital access may bring important health gains, particularly where physical infrastructure is limited. We examine the impact of internet access in Indonesia on health outcomes using the COVID-19 pandemic as a health shock. We utilize sub-national data on mobile broadband, COVID-19 spread, and an instrumental variable approach using lightning strikes as an exogenous shock to connectivity. Access to 3G internet significantly reduced the transmission of COVID-19. Areas with internet access had approximately 45\% fewer cases. Regions with higher literacy and capacity for telework benefited significantly more. These findings offer novel insights into how digital infrastructure affects public health outcomes.

JEL-codes: H41 I12 I15 I31 L96 O18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-05
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