TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Guerrico, Sofía Fernández
AU  - Tojerow, Ilan
        TI  - The Effect of Broadband Internet on Mental Health-Related Disability Insurance Claims
        PY  - 2025/Sep/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 18130
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18130
        AB  - We examine the causal impact of high-speed internet on adult mental health using administrative data from Belgium. We exploit predetermined telecommunications infrastructure and broadband technology's distance-sensitive nature for identification. Our difference-in-differences estimates show internet increased mental health-related disability insurance claims by 0.054 percentage points—a 31% increase relative to the control group. These findings are supported by increased antidepressant use at the municipality level. Results point to a work-related mechanism: effects are concentrated among knowledge workers and those in high work-from-home potential jobs. Time-use data show a substitution from leisure to work and less social interaction on weekends.
        KW  - disability insurance
KW  - internet
KW  - mental health
KW  - employment
        ER  -