Full Citation

Title: Wired and Hired: Employment Effects of Subsidized Broadband Internet for Low-Income Americans

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2019

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ISSN: 1556-5068

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3473784

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Abstract: We present evidence on the relationship between broadband pricing and labor market outcomes for low-income individuals. Specifically, we estimate the effects of a Comcast service providing discounted broadband to qualifying low-income families. We use a triple differences strategy exploiting geographic variation in Comcast coverage, individual variation in eligibility, and temporal variation pre- and post-launch. Program enrollment increases the probability that an eligible lowincome individual is employed by 4.4 percentage points (7.8%), driven by greater labor force participation and decreased probability of unemployment. Internet use increased substantially where the program was available, narrowing the income-broadband gap by at least 40 percent.

Url: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3473784

Url: https://www.ssrn.com/abstract=3473784

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Authors: Zuo, George; Kolliner, Daniel

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Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Poverty and Welfare

Countries: United States