Categories: ECONOMY

Is broadband good for you?


Kathryn R. Johnson and Claudia Persico have a new NBER working paper on exactly that topic:

Between 2000 and 2008, access to high-speed, broadband internet grew significantly in the United States, but there is debate on whether access to high-speed internet improves or harms wellbeing. We find that a ten percent increase in the proportion of county residents with access to broadband internet leads to a 1.01 percent reduction in the number of suicides in a county, as well as improvements in self-reported mental and physical health. We further find that this reduction in suicide deaths is likely due to economic improvements in counties that have access to broadband internet. Counties with increased access to broadband internet see reductions in poverty rate and unemployment rate. In addition, zip codes that gain access to broadband internet see increases in the numbers of employees and establishments. In addition, heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effects are concentrated in the working age population, those between 25 and 64 years old. This pattern is precisely what is predicted by the literature linking economic conditions to suicide risk.

It seems broadband is indeed (was indeed?) good for you.




Source link

Mainedigitalnews.com

Share
Published by
Mainedigitalnews.com

Recent Posts

Why Handcrafted Copper Jewelry is the Perfect Unique Gift

Looking for a gift that truly stands out?When searching for unique jewelry gifts for her,…

1 day ago

I Don't Know How She Survives Tech Week with Five Jobs, Two Kids, and Only One Nap

By Artist Caregiver. This month’s artist caregiver misses Shabbat dinner with her husband and children,…

3 days ago

Executing the Rangers plan matters more than a single playoff appearance

The New York Rangers want to win. After two straight horrendous years, Chris Drury has…

3 days ago

South Korea Bill Targets Unregistered Crypto Firms

Cointelegraph is committed to providing independent, high-quality journalism across the crypto, blockchain, AI, and fintech…

3 days ago

The 19th-Century novel that challenged our fear of the ‘monstrous’ whale

The US east coastal town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, where Moby Dick begins, became the whaling…

3 days ago

Why Aren’t Modernist Bridges Awful?

The public dislikes modern architecture but, generally speaking, they do not dislike modern bridges. Lists…

3 days ago