How Do Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Affect National Well-Being? The Contrasting Influence of Mobile Phones and Household Computers

This paper examines the individual influence of mobile phone and household computer on national well-being, and investigates the presence of any differential effect of broadband internet when available on mobile phone (i.e., mobile-broadband) vis-à-vis household computer (i.e., fixed-broadband). We draw on the Technological Affordance Theory as the underlying theoretical framework, and utilize panel data for 85 countries to empirically test our model. The primary analysis is conducted using a two-way fixed-effect regression model. Our findings reveal that although mobile phone, in the absence of broadband internet, has no significant influence on well-being, the presence of mobile-broadband negatively moderates this relationship. Despite mobile-broadband expanding the range of affordances within mobile phones, such as continuous access to web, it leads to compulsive and fragmented use, thereby diminishing user’s well-being. On the other hand, household computer, in the absence of broadband internet, has a positive influence on well-being, and the presence of fixed-broadband further enhances this effect. Household computers afford intentional and cognitive engagement, and the presence of fixed-broadband enhances these affordances by enabling access to skill-development resources and economic opportunities, thereby amplifying their positive impact on well-being. Additional cohort-based analysis for countries belonging to different income groups reveals deeper insights into these relationships. Our study is among the first few to theoretically demonstrate and empirically verify the contrasting behavior of mobile phone vis-à-vis household computer in their impacts on national well-being, while highlighting the subtle interplay of broadband internet thereupon. Policymakers should take note of the above affordances dynamics associated with different ICT artifacts in order to prevent their potentially negative implications on national well-being.