The Impact of Mobile Technology on Low-Income Communities in Lebanon

Bibliographic Data

ID4862068
AuthorsSamir N Hamade (Kuwait University, corresponding author), Samir Hamade
Year2012
Volume21
Issue1
Pages24-38
Publication date2012-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDigest of Middle East Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1060-4367 • E-ISSN: 1949-3606
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1949-3606.2012.00125.x
OpenAlexW2097891667
LanguageEN
References cited10

This article attempts to study the impact of mobile technology, as represented by mobile phones, on low income communities, as represented by farmers in the Bekaa Valley, the largest farmland of Lebanon. It aims to identify areas where the mobile phone has a positive impact on farmers' lives, family, friends, work, finance, and health; and areas where the mobile phone has a negative impact on farmers' lives, in addition to identifying some important associations among the variables.The results show that more than 38 percent of farmers own a mobile phone. The benefits of having a mobile phone are improved work, better income, improved family and social ties, more freedom and independence, better health, and better finance. High cost and accessibility were the two major drawbacks. Owning a mobile phone is associated with education, better work, better income, better health, and better finance. It is independent of gender and income. The study recommends that telecommunication companies in the area should expand their services to low-income communities, improve coverage, and reduce cost

Business · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Family income · Low income · Mobile computing · Mobile payment · Mobile phone · Mobile technology · Payment · Phone · Socioeconomics · Telecommunications · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Engineering · ICT Impact and Policies · ICT in Developing Communities · Finance

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