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Mums Go Online: Is the Internet Changing the Demand for Health Care?

Author

Listed:
  • Sofia Amaral-Garcia

    (i3health/ECARES, Universite libre de Bruxelles)

  • Mattia Nardotto

    (KU Leuven, CEPR, and CESifo)

  • Carol Propper

    (Imperial College London, University of Bristol, CEPR, and IFS)

  • Tommaso Valletti

    (Imperial College London, University of Rome II, CEPR, and CESifo)

Abstract

We study the effect of Internet diffusion on childbirth procedures performed in England between 2000 and 2011. We show that broadband Internet access increased cesarean sections (C-sections): mothers living in areas with better Internet access are 2.5% more likely to obtain a C-section. The effect is driven by first-time mothers who are 6% more likely to obtain a C-section. The increased C-section rate is not accompanied by changes in health care outcomes; thus health care costs increased with no corresponding medical benefits. We show evidence documenting the growing importance of the Internet as a source of health-related information.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Amaral-Garcia & Mattia Nardotto & Carol Propper & Tommaso Valletti, 2022. "Mums Go Online: Is the Internet Changing the Demand for Health Care?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 104(6), pages 1157-1173, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:104:y:2022:i:6:p:1157-1173
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01033
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Canta, Chiara & Madio, Leonardo & Mantovani, Andrea & Reggiani, Carlo, 2026. "Regulating Physicians’ Prices in the Presence of Health Platforms," TSE Working Papers 26-1741, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    2. Di Giacomo, Marina & Perucca, Giovanni & Piacenza, Massimiliano & Turati, Gilberto, 2024. "Immigrants' clusters and unequal access to healthcare treatments," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Geraci, Andrea & Nardotto, Mattia & Reggiani, Tommaso & Sabatini, Fabio, 2022. "Broadband Internet and social capital," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    4. Sofia Amaral‐Garcia & Mattia Nardotto & Carol Propper & Tommaso Valletti, 2024. "Information and vaccine hesitancy: The role of broadband Internet," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(9), pages 1936-1948, September.
    5. Sanchis-Guarner, Rosa & Montalbán, José & Weinhardt, Felix, 2025. "Home broadband and human capital formation," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Carla Guerriero & Rosella Levaggi & Paolo Li Donni & Sara Moccia, 2025. "How Digital Divide and Hospital Quality Misperception Affect Patients Mobility," CSEF Working Papers 762, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.
    7. Ma, Shuang & Mu, Ren, 2025. "Digital Roots or Digital Routes? Broadband Expansion and the Rural-Urban Migration in China," IZA Discussion Papers 17752, IZA Network @ LISER.
    8. Cariolle, Joël & Elkhateeb, Yasmine & Maurel, Mathilde, 2024. "Misinformation technology: Internet use and political misperceptions in Africa," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 400-433.
    9. Donati, Dante & Durante, Ruben & Sobbrio, Francesco & Zejcirovic, Dijana, 2025. "Lost in the net? Broadband internet and youth mental health," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Vincenzo Alfano, 2025. "Unravelling the Web: The Internet’s Double-Edged Impact on COVID-19 Dynamics," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 11(3), pages 1153-1178, November.
    11. Van Parys, Jessica & Brown, Zach Y., 2024. "Broadband Internet access and health outcomes: Patient and provider responses in Medicare," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    12. Barili, Emilia & Bertoli, Paola & Grembi, Veronica, 2021. "Neighborhoods, networks, and delivery methods," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    13. Fu, Hongqiao & Cheng, Terence C. & Zhan, Jiajia & Xu, Duo & Yip, Winnie, 2024. "Dynamic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for telemedicine services: Evidence from China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 531-557.
    14. Sawan Rathi & Anindya S. Chakrabarti & Chirantan Chatterjee & Aparna Hegde, 2022. "Pandemics and technology engagement: New evidence from m‐Health intervention during COVID‐19 in India," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 2184-2217, November.
    15. Di Giacomo, Marina & Piacenza, Massimiliano & Salmasi, Luca & Turati, Gilberto, 2025. "Understanding labour productivity in maternity wards," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    16. Vikas Gawai & Steven Deller, 2025. "Is there a link between access to broadband and health outcomes?," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 84(2), pages 361-386, March.
    17. Sabatini, Fabio, 2023. "The Behavioral, Economic, and Political Impact of the Internet and Social Media: Empirical Challenges and Approaches," IZA Discussion Papers 16703, IZA Network @ LISER.
    18. Pham, Thi Trang & Wong, Pui Hang, 2025. "Internet Access and Youth’s Mental Health and Well-being," MERIT Working Papers 2025-007, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    19. Pilvar, Hanifa & Yousefi, Kowsar, 2021. "Changing physicians’ incentives to control the C-section rate: Evidence from a major health care reform in Iran," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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