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Home-Country Internet and Immigrants' Well-Being

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  • Alexander Yarkin

Abstract

This paper documents the effects of home-country internet expansion on immigrants' health and subjective well-being (SWB). Combining data from the European Social Survey with data on 3G and overall internet expansion, I find that immigrants' SWB increases following home-country internet expansion. This result is observed in two-way fixed effects and event study frameworks. The effects are stronger for (i) first-generation immigrants, (ii) those less socially integrated, and (iii) those with stronger family ties abroad. Thus, while recent evidence finds negative effects of the internet and social media on well-being, the effects are different for immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Yarkin, 2025. "Home-Country Internet and Immigrants' Well-Being," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 115, pages 432-437, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:115:y:2025:p:432-37
    DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20251027
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    1. Nikolova, Milena & Graham, Carol, 2015. "In transit: The well-being of migrants from transition and post-transition countries," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 164-186.
    2. Julia Gelatt, 2013. "Looking Down or Looking Up: Status and Subjective Well-Being among Asian and Latino Immigrants in the United States," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(1), pages 39-75, March.
    3. Donati, Dante & Durante, Ruben & Sobbrio, Francesco & Zejcirovic, Dijana, 2022. "Lost in the Net? Broadband Internet and Youth Mental Health," IZA Discussion Papers 15202, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. repec:ces:ceswps:_9676 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. repec:sae:mrxval:v:47:y:2013:i:1:p:39-75 is not listed on IDEAS
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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