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The Faster the Better? The Effect of Ultra-Fast Broadband on Students’ Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Carlo Cambini

    (Department of Production and Management Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy)

  • Lorien Sabatino

    (Department of Production and Management Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy)

  • Sarah Zaccagni

    (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

In this paper, we study the impact of ultra-fast broadband (UBB) access on student performance. These networks are based on optical fiber, allowing significantly higher speed compared to traditional copper-line connections. Our empirical analysis leverages on a unique dataset that combines information on broadband diffusion with data on student performance in 2nd, 5th, and 8th grade for the period 2012-2017. We exploit the staggered roll-out of UBB, starting from 2015. Through an event study approach, we find evidence of endogeneity between student performance and broadband diffusion. We deal with this issue through an instrumental variable approach that exploits plausibly exogenous variation in the diffusion of the essential UBB input. Our results suggest that ultra-fast connections significantly decrease students’ performance in Mathematics and Italian language in 8th grade. Instead, we do not find any significant effect in 2nd and 5th grade. Male students from low-educated parental backgrounds are those more adversely affected, especially if they attend schools with a low IT usage.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo Cambini & Lorien Sabatino & Sarah Zaccagni, 2021. "The Faster the Better? The Effect of Ultra-Fast Broadband on Students’ Performance," CEBI working paper series 21-14, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kucebi:2114
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    File URL: https://www.econ.ku.dk/cebi/publikationer/working-papers/CEBI_WP_14-21.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Boeri, Filippo, 2023. "High-speed broadband, school closures and educational achievements," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118120, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ultra-fast broadband; internet; student performance; instrumental variables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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