New cellular networks in Malawi: Correlates of service rollout and network performance

Cellular technologies have become increasingly important in the developing world; infrastructure for mobile networks has expanded dramatically over the past two decades giving access to remote areas without previous phone service. Despite this expansion, relatively little is known about the correlates of the rollout of cellular phone networks or the performance of these networks. Since the rollout of cellular networks has been largely spearheaded by an active private sector in telecommunications, how demand-side and cost-side factors affect the timing of rollout and quality of network service is of particular interest. In this paper we use new data to estimate the correlates of cellular phone access and network performance across rural areas of Malawi. We compile a dataset which combines administrative data of the entire cellular network of Malawi with geographic and Census data to describe the rollout and the performance of the cellular network measured by the dropped call rate. We find that both demand-side and cost-side factors are important in determining the timing of network access, while demand-side factors appear most relevant for the dropped call rate, one metric of network quality.

Μελέτες στα οικονομικά της διαφθοράς

The dissertation is comprised of essays on the economics of corruption, whose goal is to contribute to an understanding of the causes of the phenomenon and the ways in which it can be prevented, using applied microeconometric methods. The first part of the dissertation analyzes the relationship between electoral competition and mismanagement at the local level. The second part of the dissertation analyzes the relationship between the legal framework and corruption practices in international business relations.Η διατριβή αποτελείται από μελέτες στα οικονομικά της διαφθοράς, που έχουν στόχο να συμβάλλουν στη κατανόηση των αιτιών του φαινομένου και των τρόπων πρόληψης του, χρησιμοποιώντας μεθόδους εφαρμοσμένης μικροοικονομετρίας. Το πρώτο μέρος της διατριβής αναλύει τη σχέση μεταξύ εκλογικής ανταγωνιστικότητας και κακοδιαχείρισης στο τοπικό επίπεδο. Το δεύτερο μέρος της διατριβής αναλύει τη σχέση μεταξύ νομοθεσίας και πρακτικών διαφθοράς σε διεθνείς επιχειρηματικές σχέσεις