--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/literature-review-of-the-economic-impacts-of-broadband/" title: "Literature Review of the Economic Impacts of Broadband" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-01T12:47:14+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-01T12:47:14+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "broadband" - "digital infrastructure" - "economic impacts" - "employment" - "internet" - "labour productivity" - "literature review" - "total factor productivity" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "Technology and Innovation" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Literature Review of the Economic Impacts of Broadband Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/literature-review-of-the-economic-impacts-of-broadband/ # Literature Review of the Economic Impacts of Broadband [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2023-06-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Bakiskan, Atakan, and Sarah El Kaissi. 2023. “Literature Review of the Economic Impacts of Broadband.” CSLS Research Report 2023-06. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/literature-review-of-the-economic-impacts-of-broadband/ ## Authors: - Atakan Bakiskan Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Sarah El Kaissi Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2023-06 September 2023 76 pages ## Related research [Closing the First Nations Education Gap in Canada: Assessing Progress and Estimating the Economic Benefits — An Update Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2023 | Report 2023-01 | 101 pages](https://csls.ca/research/closing-the-first-nations-education-gap-in-canada-assessing-progress-and-estimating-the-economic-benefits-an-update-2023-01/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Productivity Trends: A Canada-U.S. Comparison Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) January 1999 | Report 1999-01 | 6 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-a-canada-u-s-comparison/) [New Estimates of Manufacturing Productivity Growth for Canada and the United States Andrew Sharpe March 1999 | Report 1999-02 | 21 pages](https://csls.ca/research/new-estimates-of-manufacturing-productivity-growth-for-canada-and-the-united-states/) [A Comparison of Canadian and U.S. Labour Market Performance, 1989-2000 Andrew Sharpe April 2001 | Report 2001-01 | 29 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-comparison-of-canadian-and-u-s-labour-market-performance-1989-2000/) [Productivity Trends in the Construction Sector: A Case of Lagging Technical Progress Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) November 2001 | Report 2001-03 | 177 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-the-construction-sector-a-case-of-lagging-technical-progress/) [Productivity Trends in Natural Resources Industries in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01a | 69 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-natural-resources-industries-in-canada/) [Productivity in the Forest Products Sector: A Review of the Literature Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-02 | 28 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-in-the-forest-products-sector-a-review-of-the-literature/) [An Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01b | 64 pages](https://csls.ca/research/an-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-canada/) [Why Are Americans More Productive Than Canadians? Andrew Sharpe June 2003 | Report 2003-03 | 83 pages](https://csls.ca/research/why-are-americans-more-productive-than-canadians/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This comprehensive literature review examines the economic impacts of broadband, with a focus on productivity and economic growth. Incorporating 55 quantitative economic papers covering cross-country, firm-level, and industry studies, we provide detailed explanations of data choices, methodologies, and key findings. We explore various measures used to quantify broadband impacts, including penetration rates, speed, and technology adoption. We analyze studies on broadband’s effects on total output, total factor productivity (TFP), employment, and the applications enabled by broadband, such as social media, e-commerce, and cloud computing. Methodological challenges, such as endogeneity and data limitations, are discussed, underscoring the need for improved methodologies and data to accurately assess broadband’s economic impact. Overall, findings indicate a generally positive association between broadband penetration and output and labour productivity, despite some mixed results from earlier studies. More recent studies with improved methodologies consistently demonstrate a positive impact. Similarly, studies on TFP and employment reveal a positive influence of broadband. Cette recension exhaustive de la littérature examine les retombées économiques du haut débit, en mettant l’accent sur la productivité et la croissance économique. S’appuyant sur 55 articles économiques quantitatifs couvrant des études interpays, au niveau des entreprises et par industrie, nous fournissons des explications détaillées des choix de données, des méthodologies et des principaux résultats. Nous explorons diverses mesures utilisées pour quantifier les retombées du haut débit, y compris les taux de pénétration, la vitesse et l’adoption technologique. Nous analysons des études sur les effets du haut débit sur la production totale, la productivité multifactorielle (PMF), l’emploi et les applications rendues possibles par le haut débit, comme les médias sociaux, le commerce électronique et l’infonuagique. Les défis méthodologiques, tels que l’endogénéité et les limites des données, sont abordés, soulignant la nécessité d’améliorer les méthodologies et les données afin d’évaluer avec précision les retombées économiques du haut débit. Dans l’ensemble, les résultats indiquent une association généralement positive entre la pénétration du haut débit et la production ainsi que la productivité du travail, malgré des résultats mitigés dans certaines études antérieures. Des études plus récentes, dotées de méthodologies améliorées, démontrent de façon constante une incidence positive. De même, les études sur la PMF et l’emploi révèlent une influence positive du haut débit. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2023-06-1.pdf)