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Does providing free internet access to low‐income households affect COVID‐19 spread?

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  • Daniel Goetz

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.

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  • Daniel Goetz, 2022. "Does providing free internet access to low‐income households affect COVID‐19 spread?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(12), pages 2648-2663, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:31:y:2022:i:12:p:2648-2663
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4601
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