Mobile phone ownership and welfare: Evidence from South Africa's household survey. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miyajima, Ken
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 154(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Digitalization -- Household survey -- Instrumental variable approach -- Mobile phone -- South Africa; D15 -- O12 -- O55; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105863
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: The impact of mobile phone ownership on consumption in South Africa is investigated, leveraging rich household survey data in a panel format. Attempts are made to disentangle the two-way relationship between consumption and mobile phone ownership, which is inherently difficult. Consumption of mobile phone owners tends to be 10–20 percent above that of non-owners and benefits accrue more on those with lower consumption.