Mobile phone ownership and welfare: Evidence from South Africa’s household survey

Abstract

• The impact of mobile phone ownership on consumption in South Africa is investigated, leveraging rich household survey data in a panel format. • Attempts are made to disentangle the two-way relationship between consumption and mobile phone ownership, which is inherently difficult. • Consumption of mobile phone owners tends to be 10–20 percent above that of non-owners and benefits accrue more on those with lower consumption.