Is employment growth affected by the introduction of broadband services? Evidence from firms in Ireland

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17811/ebl.8.1.2019.41-52

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of deploying digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband on job creation within existing firms. We use spatial information on broadband and firm locations, exploiting geographical and temporal variation in broadband availability in Ireland during 2007-2014. This is linked to a panel of firm-level data on employment and other characteristics. Econometric models are used to explore the relationship between DSL and employment over time and across local economic and industry contexts. We also investigate whether effects might vary depending upon local educational attainment. We find little evidence of a general effect of DSL roll-out on employment in Irish firms.

Author Biographies

Philip Carthy, Economic and Social Research Institute

Research Assistant

Sean Lyons, Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin

Associate Research Professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, Ireland and Adjunct Professor at Trinity College Dublin

References

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Bertschek, Irene, Wolfgang Briglauer, Kai Hüschelrath, Benedikt Kauf, and Thomas Niebel. 2015. ‘The Economic Impacts of Broadband Internet: A Survey’. Review of Network Economics 14 (4): 201–227.

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Czernich, Nina, Oliver Falck, Tobias Kretschmer, and Ludger Woessmann. 2011. ‘Broadband Infrastructure and Economic Growth’. The Economic Journal 121 (552): 505–532.

Ivus, Olena, and Matthew Boland. 2015. ‘The Employment and Wage Impact of Broadband Deployment in Canada’. Canadian Journal of Economics 48 (5): 1803–1830.

Kolko, Jed. 2012. ‘Broadband and Local Growth’. Journal of Urban Economics 71 (1): 100–113.

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Published

25-02-2019

How to Cite

Carthy, P., & Lyons, S. (2019). Is employment growth affected by the introduction of broadband services? Evidence from firms in Ireland. Economics and Business Letters, 8(1), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.17811/ebl.8.1.2019.41-52

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2019): March

Section

Articles

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