Data and Code for: "Wired and Hired: Employment Effects of Subsidized Broadband Internet for Low-Income Americans"

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) George Zuo, University of Maryland

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Project Citation:

Zuo, George. Data and Code for: “Wired and Hired: Employment Effects of Subsidized Broadband Internet for Low-Income Americans.” Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2021. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-07-20. https://doi.org/10.3886/E120309V1

Project Description

Summary: I present evidence on the relationship between broadband pricing and labor market outcomes for low-income individuals. Specifically, I estimate the effects of a Comcast service providing discounted broadband to qualifying low-income families. I use a triple differences strategy exploiting geographic variation in Comcast coverage, individual variation in eligibility, and temporal variation pre- and post-launch. Local program availability increased employment rates and earnings of eligible individuals, driven by greater labor force participation and decreased probability of unemployment. Internet use increased substantially where the program was available.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: Broadband; Internet; Poverty; Job Search; Economics; Labor Economics

JEL Classification:
I30 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: General
J08 Labor Economics Policies

Geographic Coverage: USA

Time Period(s): 1/1/2009 – 1/1/2015

Collection Date(s): 2018 – 2020

Universe: Adult noninstitutionalized population of the United States, ages 18 and older

Data Type(s): aggregate data; survey data

Methodology

Data Source:

American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 2009-2017
Current Population Survey Computer and Internet Use Supplement, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Pew Research Center Survey on Gaming, Jobs, and Broadband: June 10-July 12, 2015
State Broadband Initiative/National Broadband Map (National Telecommunications and Information Administration): 2012, 2013
Fixed Broadband Deployment Data (Federal Communications Commission): 2014, 2015

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Published Versions

V1 [2021-07-20]

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