The Effect of Fibre Broadband on Student Learning

Arthur Grimes and Wilbur Townsend

No 290523, Motu Working Papers from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research

Abstract: We estimate the impact of ultra-fast broadband on schools’ academic performance using a difference-in-difference study of a new fibre broadband network. We show that fibre broadband increases primary schools’ passing rates in standardised assessments by roughly one percentage point. Estimates are robust to alternative specifications, such as controlling for time-varying covariates. We find no evidence that gender, ethnic minorities or students enrolled in remote schools benefit disproportionately. However, we find some evidence of a larger benefit within schools that have a greater proportion of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Keywords: Research; and; Development/Tech; Change/Emerging; Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23
Date: 2017-04
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:motuwp:290523

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.290523

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