Telephone Directories for Mobile Phone Networks

• Development Workshop

Date and Location

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, 4:10 PM - 5:30 PM
ARE Library Conference Room, 4101 Social Sciences and Humanities

Abstract

Mobile phones have spread throughout developing countries, largely without complementary information services that allow users to search the mobile phone network. We develop a model that predicts both productive and distributive benefits from information services that lower the cost of communication between households and enterprises. To test hypotheses implied by the model we conduct a set of paired RCTs in central Tanzania, centered on the production and distribution of a telephone directory relevant to agricultural households. We randomized enterprises into the directory during a trial period, and randomized household access to the directory at the village level. The directory had substantial impacts on both sides. Enterprises saw large increases in the volume of calls and the use of mobile money. Directory recipients increased search activities and the use of mobile phones for business purposes. There is suggestive evidence of improved farming outcomes for recipients. Survey-based and incentivized measures of willingness-to-pay to be listed (for enterprises) or to receive a directory (for potential recipients,) allow us to estimate the optimal level of directory subsidization.

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