IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/adi/ijbess/v7y2025i2p250-259.html

A nexus of access to information and household poverty post Covid-19

Author

Listed:
  • Hannah M Dunga

    (University of South Africa)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of access to information in determining socioeconomic outcomes, especially in the context of poverty alleviation. This study explores the nexus between access to information and poverty in South Africa, emphasizing the role of digital connectivity in socio-economic development using data from the General Household Survey (GHS) 2023 collected by STATSSA. Through logistic regression analysis, the study examines the impact of internet access and other information channels on poverty levels, with a particular focus on marginalized groups, including female-headed households. Using regression analysis and descriptive statistics, the findings reveal that access to internet services significantly influences household poverty levels. Households with access to mobile internet, Wi-Fi, and other forms of digital connectivity are less likely to experience poverty, highlighting the critical role of technology in improving access to education, employment, and government services. However, significant disparities persist, with approximately 29% of households lacking mobile internet and over 93% without access to public Wi-Fi, exacerbating the digital divide, particularly in rural and low-income communities. The results further indicate that socio-demographic factors, including age, gender, race, and household size, intersect with digital access to shape poverty outcomes. Female-headed and black households are disproportionately affected by poverty, reflecting broader structural inequalities. Limited access to technology among these groups amplifies their vulnerability, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions. The results underscore the importance of addressing information disparities to promote financial inclusion and drive sustainable development in the post-pandemic era. This paper provides evidence-based insights for policymakers to develop targeted interventions that bridge the digital divide and support vulnerable populations in South Africa. The study concludes that improving digital inclusion is essential for addressing poverty, fostering economic mobility, and reducing inequality in the post-COVID-19 era. It calls for policy efforts to enhance internet accessibility and bridge the digital divide, particularly for marginalized populations. Key Words:Access to information, poverty, postcovid-19, digital divide

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah M Dunga, 2025. "A nexus of access to information and household poverty post Covid-19," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(2), pages 250-259, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:adi:ijbess:v:7:y:2025:i:2:p:250-259
    DOI: 10.36096/ijbes.v7i2.764
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.bussecon.com/ojs/index.php/ijbes/article/view/764/440
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v7i2.764
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.36096/ijbes.v7i2.764?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hilbert, Martin, 2016. "The bad news is that the digital access divide is here to stay: Domestically installed bandwidths among 172 countries for 1986–2014," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 567-581.
    2. Jonathan Donner & Marcela X. Escobari, 2010. "A review of evidence on mobile use by micro and small enterprises in developing countries," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(5), pages 641-658.
    3. Arief Anshory Yusuf & Zuzy Anna & Ahmad Komarulzaman & Andy Sumner, 2023. "Will economic growth be sufficient to end global poverty?: New projections of the UN Sustainable Development Goals," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-123, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Ismael Maloma & Hannah Dunga, 2023. "Analysis of determinants of poverty in South Africa in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(4), pages 400-409, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christopher Sutter & Babita Bhatt & Israr Qureshi, 2023. "What Makes Resource Provision an Effective Means of Poverty Alleviation? A Resourcing Perspective," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(1), pages 223-245, January.
    2. Nisreen Ameen & Nnamdi O. Madichie & Amitabh Anand, 2023. "Between Handholding and Hand-held Devices: Marketing Through Smartphone Innovation and Women’s Entrepreneurship in Post Conflict Economies in Times of Crisis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 401-423, February.
    3. Gopalan, Sasidaran & Reddy, Ketan & Sasidharan, Subash, 2022. "Does digitalization spur global value chain participation? Firm-level evidence from emerging markets," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    4. Javier Barbero & Ernesto Rodríguez-Crespo, 2022. "Technological, institutional, and geographical peripheries: regional development and risk of poverty in the European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 311-332, October.
    5. Grošelj, Darja & Reisdorf, Bianca C. & Petrovčič, Andraž, 2019. "Obtaining indirect internet access: An examination how reasons for internet non-use relate to proxy internet use," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 213-224.
    6. Chatterjee, Susmita & Dutta Gupta, Sangita & Upadhyay, Parijat, 2020. "Technology adoption and entrepreneurial orientation for rural women: Evidence from India," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    7. Ezinne M. Emeana & Liz Trenchard & Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, 2020. "The Revolution of Mobile Phone-Enabled Services for Agricultural Development (m-Agri Services) in Africa: The Challenges for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    8. Grishchenko, Natalia, 2020. "The gap not only closes: Resistance and reverse shifts in the digital divide in Russia," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(8).
    9. Fabiane Tubino Garcia & Carla Schwengber ten Caten & Elaine Aparecida Regiani de Campos & Aline Marian Callegaro & Diego Augusto de Jesus Pacheco, 2022. "Mortality Risk Factors in Micro and Small Businesses: Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-37, February.
    10. Serrecchia, Michela, 2024. "Analysis of Internet development and internal digital divide by using the “.it” domain names as an indicator: Evidence from Italy," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(10).
    11. Paunov, Caroline & Rollo, Valentina, 2016. "Has the Internet Fostered Inclusive Innovation in the Developing World?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 587-609.
    12. Wei Yang & Le Wang & Xian Zhang, 2025. "Online or not online: the impact of business owner’s risk preference on the adoption of e-business," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 1375-1394, June.
    13. Kosec, Katrina & Wantchekon, Leonard, 2020. "Can information improve rural governance and service delivery?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Vitor Miguel Ribeiro & Lei Bao, 2021. "Impact of next‐generation access networks on the innovation efficiency of Portuguese municipalities: A spatial econometrics approach," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(5), pages 1615-1637, October.
    15. Siti Fahazarina Hazudin & Mohamad Fazli Sabri & Puteri Fadzline Muhamad Tamyez & Mohd Aidil Riduan Awang Kader & Mohd Rozaimy Ridzuan & Norulhuda Tajuddin & Senthil Kumar, 2025. "Systematic Review of Determinants of Rural Women Entrepreneurs’ Success: Research Progress and Future Agenda," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, November.
    16. Yugang He, 2026. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Beyond GDP: national intelligence quotient as a catalyst for sustainable socioeconomic welfare," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Liu, Chun & Wang, Lian, 2021. "Who is left behind? Exploring the characteristics of China's broadband non-adopting families," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(9).
    18. Holden , Stein T. & Tilahun , Mesfin, 2018. "Gender Digital Divide and Youth Business Group Leadership," CLTS Working Papers 5/18, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies, revised 16 Oct 2019.
    19. Nazurah Abdul Malek, 2024. "Gig Economy: Is It a Trap or Stepping Stone for the Informal Sector?," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(3), pages 28-38.
    20. Malecki, Edward J., 2017. "Real people, virtual places, and the spaces in between," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 3-12.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:adi:ijbess:v:7:y:2025:i:2:p:250-259. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Umit Hacioglu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ibihutr.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.