Internet infrastructure and income inequality of migrant workers in China

Despite the growing importance of internet infrastructure in contemporary society, limited research has examined its role in the socioeconomic integration of migrant workers. This study investigates how internet infrastructure influences income inequality among migrant workers in China, using the implementation of the “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment. The results show that internet infrastructure increases migrant workers’ income, with the strength of this effect increasing over time. The study further explores the underlying mechanisms through the lenses of information capital and social capital. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that the benefits of internet infrastructure are not evenly distributed across migrant workers but instead vary systematically in terms of information access, information usage, and macro-level environmental conditions. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence of a causal relationship between internet infrastructure and income inequality among migrant workers and offers policy implications for making digital public infrastructure more inclusive.