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Broadband Internet and Household Welfare in Senegal

Author

Listed:
  • Masaki, Takaaki

    (World Bank)

  • Ochoa, Rogelio Granguillhome

    (World Bank)

  • Rodriguez Castelan, Carlos

    (World Bank)

Abstract

Senegal has experienced a rapid expansion in fixed and mobile broadband Internet infrastructure over the past decade. This paper examines the relationship between access to broadband internet and household welfare between 2011 and 2018 by integrating the latest two rounds of household budget surveys with data on the location of fiber-optic transmission nodes and coverage maps of third-generation (3G) mobile technology. Results show that 3G coverage is associated with a 14 percent increase in total consumption and a 10 percent decline in extreme poverty. These results are robust to controlling for spatial characteristics and access to complementary digital infrastructure, as well as to an instrumental variable approach that relies on distance to 3G coverage in neighboring areas. These effects are larger among households in urban areas and households headed by men or younger cohorts. Although in the same direction, welfare effects of proximity to fixed broadband infrastructure are not statistically significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Masaki, Takaaki & Ochoa, Rogelio Granguillhome & Rodriguez Castelan, Carlos, 2020. "Broadband Internet and Household Welfare in Senegal," IZA Discussion Papers 13658, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13658
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fernandes, Ana M. & Mattoo, Aaditya & Nguyen, Huy & Schiffbauer, Marc, 2019. "The internet and Chinese exports in the pre-ali baba era," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 57-76.
    2. Decoster,Xavier Stephane & Lara Ibarra,Gabriel & Mendiratta,Vibhuti & Santacroce,Marco, 2019. "Welfare Effects of Introducing Competition in the Telecom Sector in Djibouti," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8850, The World Bank.
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    4. Bahia, Kalvin & Castells, Pau & Cruz, Genaro & Masaki, Takaaki & Pedrós, Xavier & Pfutze, Tobias & Rodríguez-Castelán, Carlos & Winkler, Hernán, 2024. "The welfare effects of mobile broadband internet: Evidence from Nigeria," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Mora-Rivera, Jorge & García-Mora, Fernando & Cavazos-Castro, Manuel, 2025. "When “more is less”: Connecting for a better life in rural Mexico," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(10).
    2. Rodríguez-Castelán, Carlos & Araar, Abdelkrim & Malásquez, Eduardo A. & Granguillhome Ochoa, Rogelio, 2022. "Competition reform and household welfare: A microsimulation analysis of the telecommunication sector in Ethiopia," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(2).
    3. Behice CANATAN & Gökhan ÖZBİLGE & Egemen İPEK, 2023. "A Socioeconomic Analysis in Terms of Household Digital Technology Ownership," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 31(56).
    4. Bahia,Kalvin & Castells,Pau & Masaki,Takaaki & Cruz,Genaro & Rodriguez Castelan,Carlos & Sanfelice,Viviane, 2021. "Mobile Broadband Internet, Poverty and Labor Outcomes in Tanzania," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9749, The World Bank.
    5. Granguillhome Ochoa, Rogelio & Lach, Samantha & Masaki, Takaaki & Rodríguez-Castelán, Carlos, 2022. "Mobile internet adoption in West Africa," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Houngbonon,Georges Vivien & Mensah,Justice Tei & Traore,Nouhoum-000531164, 2022. "The Impact of Internet Access on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9945, The World Bank.
    7. David Roodman, 2024. "The Arrival of Fast Internet and Employment in Africa: Comment," Papers 2401.13694, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2025.
    8. Mensah, Justice Tei, 2024. "Jobs! Electricity shortages and unemployment in Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • F63 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Economic Development
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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