Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
•The impact of mobile phone ownership on consumption in South Africa is investigated, leveraging rich household survey data in a panel format.•Attempts are made to disentangle the two-way relationship between consumption and mobile phone ownership, which is inherently difficult.•Consumption of mobile phone owners tends to be 10–20 percent above that of non-owners and benefits accrue more on those with lower consumption.