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The latest expansion of optic fiber broadband creates conditions for parallel expansion of mobile broadband. A study argues that the negative effect is mainly due to mobile broadband. The argument is supported by the fact that the effect does not exist in the countryside, where mobile broadband has poor coverage.
"Of course, it's difficult to believe that the internet is negative for companies—and we don't think that is the case: The internet and broadband are probably good for companies. What we found is rather that the latest developments in technology have a negative side effect on productivity, and it's important to highlight this trend and investigate it further," says Martin Nordin, associate professor in labor market economics and one of the authors of the study.
"We saw that the negative effect first appeared in 2011. As this coincided with the start of the 4G network expansion, there is reason to believe that the effect is connected to mobile broadband. When an area gets optic fiber, it can be assumed that 4G transmission masts for mobile broadband are also set up," continues Martin Nordin.
The negative productivity effect is greater for companies whose employees mix private and job-related internet use. "If it's correct that the effect is due to mobile broadband, the effect is not only linked to what happens at work. Internet use outside work also has an effect," says Martin Nordin.
Psychologists have shown that new media habits in combination with smartphones mean a constant stimulation of our social reward system. It has been claimed that smartphones affect sleep patterns, depression, suicide risks among young people, performance at school and accident risks.
"Stating that smartphones have negative effects isn't controversial. Research shows that we are disturbed every 12 minutes by our smartphones, for example. What is new about our study is that we investigate if there could be negative effects on companies' finances," says Martin Nordin.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Chocolate on Thursday May 30 2019, @12:09PM (3 children)
<sarcasm>In other news, expansion of roads into poorly developed areas has a detrimental effect on the populace. Sure, these roads bring cars and money and more people and jobs and can be useful for medical care and building towns but it comes with serious downsides. Scientists have shown that with petrol stations come petrol sniffers. This toxic habit will usually only occur when areas are built up and petrol is widely available. Studies have shown that with roads comes litter with drivers and passengers throwing refuse from vehicles. Is this enough to warrant not upgrading dirt tracks to roads? No one knows for sure. We intend to find out.</sarcasm>
Bit-choco-coin anyone?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by maxwell demon on Thursday May 30 2019, @02:58PM
Don't worry, the future is in electric cars, so no more petrol sniffing. :-)
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday May 30 2019, @04:30PM (1 child)
What have the Romans ever done for us ?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 31 2019, @07:47AM
Limited the size of our space rockets.
Invented and made popular The Orgy.
Introduced the world to lead pipes.
Gave us the word Decimate.
Gave us numbers that were not steeped in evil (see recent US poll).
Orgies.
Hookers.
Blow.
I miss MDC.