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Mobile Phone Ownership and Welfare: Evidence from South Africa’s Household Survey

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  • Mr. Ken Miyajima

Abstract

Digitalization is accelerating as countries fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the impact of mobile phone ownership on welfare (represented by consumption) is estimated for South Africa using rich household survey data in a panel format, the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) with 5 waves spanning 2008–17. The literature argues mobile phone ownership facilitates greater and more affordable access to information and generate welfare gains. We attempt to disentangle the two-way relationship between consumption and mobile phone ownership, which is inherently difficult, and add to the literature by investigating distributional effects. Estimated results suggest that consumption of mobile phone owners tends to be 10–20 percent above that of non-owners. Benefits tend to accrue more on individuals with relatively low levels of consumption, potentially as a greater number of new users, likely with higher marginal positive effects on consumption, and a faster rate of user cost reduction help reap greater gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Ken Miyajima, 2020. "Mobile Phone Ownership and Welfare: Evidence from South Africa’s Household Survey," IMF Working Papers 2020/222, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2020/222
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    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. 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.
    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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    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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