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Mobile phone ownership and welfare: Evidence from South Africa’s household survey

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  • Miyajima, Ken

Abstract

•The impact of mobile phone ownership on consumption in South Africa is investigated, leveraging rich household survey data in a panel format.•Attempts are made to disentangle the two-way relationship between consumption and mobile phone ownership, which is inherently difficult.•Consumption of mobile phone owners tends to be 10–20 percent above that of non-owners and benefits accrue more on those with lower consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Miyajima, Ken, 2022. "Mobile phone ownership and welfare: Evidence from South Africa’s household survey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:154:y:2022:i:c:s0305750x22000535
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105863
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    Cited by:

    1. Arouna Kouandou & Sophie Legras, 2025. "Welfare Impacts of Mobile Banking Use in Rural Africa: Gender Disaggregated Evidence from Eight Sub-Saharan African Countries," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 37(4), pages 812-838, August.
    2. Matsuura,Masanori & Md Saiful Islam,Abu Hayat & Tauseef,Salauddin, 2023. "Mobile phone ownership, income diversification, and household welfare in rural Bangladesh," IDE Discussion Papers 875, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    3. Pirénam Diane Kpatcha & Essossinam Ali & Nimonka Bayale & Pouwemdéou Tchila & Moukpè Gniniguè, 2026. "Unlocking household well-being through financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa: insights across gender and rural-urban divides," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 50(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Nguyen Chau, Trinh & Vu Thi Hong, Nhung & Pham Thi Thu, Tra & Ramsawak, Richard & Nguyen Thien, Nhan, 2024. "Re-examining the effects of information and communication technology on economic growth," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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