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Leveraging mobile phones to attain sustainable development

Author

Listed:
  • Valentina Rotondi

    (Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1JD, United Kingdom; Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy, Bocconi University, 20136 Milano, Italy; Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1NF, United Kingdom; Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1JD, United Kingdom)

  • Ridhi Kashyap

    (Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1JD, United Kingdom; Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1NF, United Kingdom; Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1JD, United Kingdom)

  • Luca Maria Pesando

    (Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7, Canada; Centre on Population Dynamics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E6, Canada)

  • Simone Spinelli

    (Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy, Bocconi University, 20136 Milano, Italy)

  • Francesco C. Billari

    (Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy, Bocconi University, 20136 Milano, Italy; Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, 20136 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

For billions of people across the globe, mobile phones enable relatively cheap and effective communication, as well as access to information and vital services on health, education, society, and the economy. Drawing on context-specific evidence on the effects of the digital revolution, this study provides empirical support for the idea that mobile phones are a vehicle for sustainable development at the global scale. It does so by assembling a wealth of publicly available macro- and individual-level data, exploring a wide range of demographic and social development outcomes, and leveraging a combination of methodological approaches. Macro-level analyses covering 200+ countries reveal that mobile-phone access is associated with lower gender inequality, higher contraceptive uptake, and lower maternal and child mortality. Individual-level analyses of survey data from sub-Saharan Africa, linked with detailed geospatial information, further show that women who own a mobile phone are better informed about sexual and reproductive health services and empowered to make independent decisions. Payoffs are larger among the least-developed countries and among the most disadvantaged micro-level clusters. Overall, our findings suggest that boosting mobile-phone access and coverage and closing digital divides, particularly among women, can be powerful tools to attain empowerment-related sustainable development goals, in an ultimate effort to enhance population health and well-being and reduce poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentina Rotondi & Ridhi Kashyap & Luca Maria Pesando & Simone Spinelli & Francesco C. Billari, 2020. "Leveraging mobile phones to attain sustainable development," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(24), pages 13413-13420, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:117:y:2020:p:13413-13420
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Luca Maria Pesando & Valentina Rotondi & Manuela Stranges & Ridhi Kashyap & Francesco C. Billari, 2021. "The Internetization of International Migration," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 47(1), pages 79-111, March.
    2. Tüzemen Samet & Barış-Tüzemen Özge & Çelik Ali Kemal, 2021. "The relationship between information and communication technologies and female labour force participation in Turkey," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 7(4), pages 121-145, December.
    3. Muhammad Tanveer & Harsandaldeep Kaur & George Thomas & Haider Mahmood & Mandakini Paruthi & Zhang Yu, 2021. "Mobile Phone Buying Decisions among Young Adults: An Empirical Study of Influencing Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Chen, Jingjing, 2021. "Do mobile phones empower women? A perspective from rural India," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 09, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.
    5. Rajkhowa, Pallavi & Qaim, Matin, 2022. "Mobile phones, women's physical mobility, and contraceptive use in India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    6. Flückiger, Matthias & Ludwig, Markus, 2023. "Mobile phone coverage and infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 462-485.
    7. Valentina Rotondi & Francesco C. Billari, 2022. "Mobile Money and School Participation: Evidence from Africa," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(1), pages 343-362, February.

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