Description

This paper examines the common perception that internet adoption accelerated globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data show little evidence of a faster expansion of access to internet (extensive margin) across all country income groups but strong evidence of acceleration in the improvement in the quality of connectivity (intensive margin). The data also support that, despite a decline in internet prices over the past decade, affordability of digital services remains a concern for low-income developing countries.

More publications in this series: IMF Notes

More publications by: David Amaglobeli ; Mengfei Gu ; Mariano Moszoro ; Yue Zhou ; Patricia L Escalante