The Welfare Effects of Mobile Broadband Internet: Evidence from Nigeria

46 Pages Posted: 6 May 2020 Last revised: 6 May 2020

See all articles by Kalvin Bahia

Kalvin Bahia

GSMA Intelligence

Pau Castells

GSMA Intelligence

Genaro Cruz

GSMA Intelligence

Xavier Pedros

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Tobias Pfutze

Florida International University (FIU)

Carlos Rodriguez Castelan

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Hernan Winkler

World Bank

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 5, 2020

Abstract

This paper estimates the impacts of mobile broadband coverage on household consumption and poverty in Nigeria, the largest economy and mobile broadband market in Africa. The analysis exploits a unique dataset that integrates three waves of a nationally representative longitudinal household survey on living standards with information from Nigerian mobile operators on the deployment of mobile broadband (3G and 4G) coverage between 2010 and 2016. The estimates show that mobile broadband coverage had large and positive impacts on household consumption levels which increased over time, although at a decreasing rate. Mobile broadband coverage also reduces the proportion of households below the poverty line, driven by higher food and non-food consumption in rural households. These effects are mainly due to an increase in labor force participation and employment, particularly among women.

Suggested Citation

Bahia, Kalvin and Castells, Pau and Cruz, Genaro and Pedros, Xavier and Pfutze, Tobias and Rodriguez Castelan, Carlos and Winkler, Hernan Jorge, The Welfare Effects of Mobile Broadband Internet: Evidence from Nigeria (May 5, 2020). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 9230, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3593892

Kalvin Bahia (Contact Author)

GSMA Intelligence ( email )

United Kingdom

Pau Castells

GSMA Intelligence ( email )

United Kingdom

Genaro Cruz

GSMA Intelligence

United Kingdom

Xavier Pedros

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Tobias Pfutze

Florida International University (FIU) ( email )

University Park
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199
United States

Carlos Rodriguez Castelan

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Hernan Jorge Winkler

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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