The Digital Divide and Women's Political Participation in Africa

This study examines the effect of the digital divide on women's political participation across 48 African nations. Using the system's generalized method of moments, we arrive at the main result that the digital divide is a brake on women's political empowerment in Africa. Our result remains stable to additional control variables. Similar evidence is found using the women's political participation sub‐index and alternative digital divide variables separately. We also find large differences in the relationship between the digital divide and women's political empowerment, depending on the country's political regime. We conclude by suggesting improving the quality of institutions, as well as improving financial systems, in order to reduce the digital divide and boost women's political participation.