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Mobile internet, skills and structural transformation in Rwanda

Author

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  • Caldarola, Bernardo.
  • Grazzi, Marco.
  • Occelli, Martina.
  • Sanfilippo, Marco.

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between mobile internet, employment and structural transformation in Rwanda. Thanks to its ability to enable access to a wide range of ICT technologies, internet coverage has the potential to affect the dynamics and the composition of employment significantly. To demonstrate this, we have combined GSMA network coverage maps with individual-level information from national population censuses and labour force surveys, creating a district-level dataset of Rwanda that covers the period 2002 to 2019. Our results show that an increase in mobile internet coverage affects the labour market in two ways. First, by increasing employment opportunities. Second, by contributing to changes in the composition of the labour market. Education, migration and shifts in demand are all instrumental in explaining our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Caldarola, Bernardo. & Grazzi, Marco. & Occelli, Martina. & Sanfilippo, Marco., 2022. "Mobile internet, skills and structural transformation in Rwanda," ILO Working Papers 995179893502676, International Labour Organization.
    • Handle: RePEc:ilo:ilowps:995179893502676
    DOI: 10.54394/XSTK4695
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernardo Caldarola & Luca Fontanelli, 2024. "Scaling up to the cloud: Cloud technology use and growth rates in small and large firms," Papers 2409.17035, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2025.
    2. Almeida, Rita K. & Corseuil, Carlos H.L. & Poole, Jennifer P., 2025. "The impact of digital technology on worker tasks: Do labor policies matter?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    3. Trang Thi Pham, 2025. "Mobile Internet and Income Improvement: Evidence from Viet Nam," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 42(03), pages 71-104, September.
    4. Pawel Gmyrek & Janine Berg & David Bescond, 2025. "Generative AI and Jobs: An Analysis of Potential Effects on Global Employment," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 3, pages 6-30.
    5. Angelo D’Andrea & Patrick Hitayezu & Mr. Kangni R Kpodar & Nicola Limodio & Mr. Andrea F Presbitero, 2024. "Mobile Internet, Collateral, and Banking," IMF Working Papers 2024/070, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Angelo D'Andrea & Patrick Hitayezu & Kangni Kpodar & Nicola Limodio & Andrea Filippo Presbitero, 2025. "Developing the Mortgage Market: Technology, Property Rights, and Banking," Mo.Fi.R. Working Papers 195, Money and Finance Research group (Mo.Fi.R.) - Univ. Politecnica Marche - Dept. Economic and Social Sciences.
    7. Bernardo Caldarola & Luca Fontanelli, 2024. "Cloud technologies, firm growth and industry concentration: Evidence from France," LEM Papers Series 2024/25, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    8. Zhong, Huiyong & Wang, Xiaobin, 2025. "Spatial mobility of China’s population in the digital economy," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure

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