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The Effects of Mobile Phone Infrastructure: Evidence from Rural Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Beuermann, Diether

    (Inter-American Development Bank
    CENTRUM Business School)

  • McKelvey, Christopher

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Sotelo, Carlos

    (Fondo de Inversion en Telecomunicaciones)

Abstract

We exploit the timing of cell phone coverage in rural Peru to investigate its effects on economic development. We exploit information regarding the location, date of installation and technical characteristics of cell phone towers in order to construct coverage patterns at the village level from 2001 through 2007. We then merge this information with national household surveys spanning the same period. Estimates suggest an increase of 7 percentage points in the likelihood of self reported cell phone ownership after coverage, an increase of 7.5 percent in yearly household expenditures, and a 13.5 percent increase in the value of assets.

Suggested Citation

  • Beuermann, Diether & McKelvey, Christopher & Sotelo, Carlos, 2012. "The Effects of Mobile Phone Infrastructure: Evidence from Rural Peru," Working Papers 2012-012, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbp:wpaper:2012-012
    as

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    File URL: http://www.bcrp.gob.pe/docs/Publicaciones/Documentos-de-Trabajo/2012/documento-de-trabajo-12-2012.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aparajita Goyal, 2010. "Information, Direct Access to Farmers, and Rural Market Performance in Central India," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 22-45, July.
    2. Bruce C. Greenwald & Joseph E. Stiglitz, 1986. "Externalities in Economies with Imperfect Information and Incomplete Markets," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 101(2), pages 229-264.
    3. Garbade, Kenneth D & Silber, William L, 1978. "Technology, Communication and the Performance of Financial Markets: 1840-1975," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 33(3), pages 819-832, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mobile coverage; economic development;

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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