Broadband Internet, Firm Performance, and Worker Welfare: Evidence and Mechanism

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Citation

Chen, Shiyi; Liu, Wanlin; & Song, Hong (Forthcoming). Broadband Internet, Firm Performance, and Worker Welfare: Evidence and Mechanism. Economic Inquiry.

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of high-speed internet on firm's productivity and worker's wage in China. We exploit a national policy reform and devise a difference-in-difference strategy to address the endogeneity. We find that high-speed internet significantly increases firm's productivity and worker's wage, and the estimate is larger for firms in industries with high skill intensity and for more educated workers. We provide suggestive evidence that the mechanism is likely from firm's increased use of skill-biased technology and the flattened management organization. (JEL O2, O3, J3)

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecin.12854

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

Forthcoming

Journal Title

Economic Inquiry

Author(s)

Chen, Shiyi
Liu, Wanlin
Song, Hong