Returns to information infrastructure: Evidence on women economic empowerment in Ghana

Inadequate information infrastructure remains a major challenge to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, and this situation is compounded by the footprints of the digital revolution which appear to be exacerbating the existing gender inequalities and divides. In Ghana, progress has been made in information infrastructure and women's human endowment. However, there are concerns about whether such improvements translate into improved women economic empowerment. We used the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) datasets, and the marginal treatment effects approach to examine the impact of information infrastructure on women economic empowerment. We find that having an information infrastructure in a community significantly increases women economic empowerment in general, but with higher effects of ICT centre and community radio station compared to internet café. Also, our estimates show that the availability of the information infrastructure benefits less endowed and marginalised women. This study sets itself apart from existing studies by considering the intragroup differences among women and impact mechanisms. The study also demonstrates the importance of support policies in stimulating the availability of the information infrastructure and its effect on women economic empowerment.