Does providing free internet access to low-income households affect COVID-19 spread?
Health Econ
; 31(12): 2648-2663, 2022 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2013511
ABSTRACT
This paper evaluates whether a policy of providing free, in-home Internet for lower-income households can reduce COVID-19 case rates among those households. Using data from a pilot program in Toronto, we find that deploying free public WiFi in large apartment blocks within a low-income neighborhood leads to a 14.4% reduction in weekly cases in that neighborhood. Having in-home WiFi reduces the propensity of residents to visit businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation category, suggesting that WiFi benefits residents by providing in-home substitutes for leisure activities.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Internet Access
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Health Econ
Journal subject:
Health Services
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Hec.4601
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