The Economic Impact of Mobile Phones on Low-Income Households

One of the most important technological advances over the last quarter-century has been the global diffusion of mobile phones. While the economic benefits from the mobile phone revolution are far-reaching, the greatest potential impact holds for the poorest—those who traditionally face steep barriers to long-distance communication, acquiring market information, and utilizing financial institutions.

This research program analyzes the impact of mobile technology on the livelihoods of the poor.