Research Paper 23: Economic Benefits of High-Speed Broadband Network Coverage and Service Adoption: Evidence from OECD Member States

The widespread introduction of fast broadband internet is expected to create new services for consumers and promote economic growth. However, so far there is little empirical evidence on the impact of broadband on the economy. We have analyzed data from 32 OECD countries in the years from 2002 to 2020. Our results show that both fixed and mobile broadband influence economic growth, with mobile broadband having a stronger impact. The diffusion of technologies among the population is crucial for growth and policies should take this into account and be technology agnostic.

This project was supported by the Jubilee Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank.