The Effects of Cellphone Coverage Expansion on Wealth and Political Behavior

Abstract

We study the electoral effects of cellphone coverage expansion in Ghana between 2004 and 2008 using a difference-in-differences design and find that it benefits incumbents in both presidential and parliamentary elections, with gains in the latter concentrated among incumbents from the ruling party. This appears to be due to cellphone coverage expansion improving citizens' wealth and faith in the economy as opposed to their perceptions of government performance or political knowledge.