Development in the digital age: understanding technology adoption, welfare effect and institutional implication

Thesis

This thesis consists of three self-contained but connected papers, around the topic of digital development, from aspects of technology adoption, welfare effect and institutional implication. Utilizing household surveys that collect information about internet access and usage at household and individual levels in more than 20 countries, chapter 1 identifies a positive relationship between mobile internet adoption and social network in developing countries, offering insights on potential endeavors to reduce digital divide. Leveraging the same survey, chapter 2 examines the relationship between gig economy participation and women economic empowerment. It is found that as a newly emerged digital economic activity, gig work is equally accessible to both men and women. Engaging in gig work is associated with women economic empowerment, as reflected in higher disposable income and more contribution to household expenditure. Chapter 3 analyzes whether and what types of mobile banking regulation promote financial inclusion. A regulatory index that measures the regulatory environment for mobile banking activities in more than 80 countries, as well as individual level financial inclusion data from the World Bank Findex survey are used. Findings show that individuals are more likely to have an active financial transaction account in countries that adhere to a higher number of mobile banking regulatory practices. Certain regulatory provisions such as allowing agents to conduct a wide range of financial services, and non-exclusivity of contracts between agents and financial institutions are the driving factors. The papers contribute to the literature by providing new empirical evidence about opportunities for developing countries to reap dividends from digitalization, testing different theories such as social network vs. status structure view, public choice vs. public interest theory in the context of digital economic activities, and in the meantime bringing forth policy discussions on how governments in developing countries can leverage digital technology advances to achieve development.

Authors: Chen, R

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-gornmoxa4
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: digital finance; future of work; gender and digital; financial inclusion; digital economy; mobile finance; gig work