A retrospective study on the regional benefits and spillover effects of high-speed broadband networks: Evidence from German counties
There is still hardly any empirical evidence on how divergent broadband technologies, and, by extension, bandwidth levels, influence GDP growth, or on the extent of spatial externalities at a regional level. Our study aims to assess the economic benefits of high-speed broadband networks within and across neighbouring counties in Germany. Utilizing a balanced panel dataset of 401 German counties with data from 2010-2015 as well as different panel estimation techniques, we find that the availability of high-speed broadband (which enables transfer rates of 50 Mbit/sec and higher) has a small but significant positive effect on regional GDP growth in the average German county, when compared to normal broadband availability. Furthermore, we find that broadband deployment in German counties induces substantial economic benefits in terms of direct effects and regional externalities. According to our main estimation results, an increase in bandwidth coverage of 50 Mbit/sec and higher by one percentage point induces arise in regional GDP of 0.05%. This effect is almost doubled if we also take regional externalities into account and is of particular relevance for urban counties. Furthermore, our cost-benefit analysis suggests substantial efficiency gains, as the total economic benefits of subsidy programs to encourage broadband expansion substantially exceeded their associated costs.
Year of publication: |
2019
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Authors: | Briglauer, Wolfgang ; Dürr, Niklas S. ; Gugler, Klaus |
Publisher: |
Mannheim : ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung |
Subject: | high-speed broadband infrastructure | economic growth | spatial externalities | German counties | panel data |
Saved in:
freely available
Series: | ZEW Discussion Papers ; 19-026 |
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Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Type of publication (narrower categories): | Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Other identifiers: | 166943575X [GVK] hdl:10419/200406 [Handle] RePEc:zbw:zewdip:19026 [RePEc] |
Classification: | H23 - Externalities; Redistributive Effects ; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies ; H54 - Infrastructures; Other Public Investment and Capital Stock ; L96 - Telecommunications ; L98 - Government Policy ; R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, and Changes ; R58 - Regional Development Policy |
Source: |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10012029558