Measuring the Socioeconomic Impact of Last-Mile Infrastructure in Jamaica

This paper seeks to measure the economic and social impact (e.g., level of population spending and labor indicators) of the deployment of last-mile digital infrastructure in Jamaica. Having this information can help the Jamaican government make public policy decisions on the importance of extending last-mile deployment and creating incentives for household broadband adoption. The results demonstrate the importance of accompanying the deployment of broadband with public policies that promote an equitable benefit from technology. In this regard, the need to carry out actions to promote digital literacy in the less-educated population, as well as specific actions to narrow the gender gap, is highlighted.