Education outcomes of broadband expansion in Brazilian municipalities

Alexandre Lauri Henriksen, Ana Carolina Zoghbi, Maria Tannuri-Pianto and Rafael Terra

Information Economics and Policy, 2022, vol. 60, issue C

Abstract: This study analyzes the effect of local Internet speed infrastructure (backhaul) on educational outcomes. In 2008, the Brazilian government implemented an Internet expansion policy that brought broadband to more than 3000 municipalities. The policy was designed with implementation criteria that make it a natural experiment that can be investigated through a regression discontinuity design (RDD). The results suggest worsening proficiency, higher dropout and retention among students from municipalities served by more powerful backhauls, i.e., capable of supporting higher connection speeds over fiberoptic lines. These results are paralleled in the empirical literature, which predominantly indicates negative or neutral effects of Internet access on education. This study demonstrates the need for a deeper reflection on the domestic use of the Internet and its consequences on educational outcomes of school-age children and adolescents.

Keywords: Internet; Backhaul; Education outcomes; Parametric regression discontinuity design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 H54 I20 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:60:y:2022:i:c:s0167624522000221

DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2022.100983

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