The Economics of the Phone

Jenny C. Aker () and Joël Cariolle

Chapter Chapter 3 in Mobile Phones and Development in Africa, 2023, pp 29-56 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract This chapter offers an overview of information technology’s role in development, examining its various functions, applications, and impacts. The cost-benefit analysis of adopting mobile phones and their functionalities is discussed, as well as the relationship between network size and technology utility. A framework is presented to analyze the technology’s impact, considering market failures that may constrain it. The chapter cautions against viewing information technology as a “silver bullet” for development and highlights the need to consider adoption, usage, and impact constraints. The chapter concludes by outlining how information technology can address market failures and improve development outcomes.

Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:psachp:978-3-031-41885-3_3

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-41885-3_3

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