The Impact of Internet Access on COVID-19 Spread in Indonesia

Johannes S Kunz (), Carol Propper and Trong-Anh Trinh ()
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Johannes S Kunz: Monash University
Trong-Anh Trinh: Monash University

No 2024-07, Working Papers from Centre for Health Economics, Monash University

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.

Keywords: Health emergencies; Internet access; Information; COVID-19 Spread; Indonesia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H41 I12 I15 I31 L96 O18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-ict and nep-sea
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