Volume 10 -
Evidence Based Health Policy, Management & Economics 2026, 10 - : 24-27 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Madadizadeh F, Bahariniya S. Cutting the Cord, Cutting Livelihoods: The Economic Toll of Internet Shutdowns in Iran. Evidence Based Health Policy, Management & Economics 2026; 10 :24-27
URL: http://jebhpme.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-578-en.html
URL: http://jebhpme.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-578-en.html
Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , sajjadbahari98@gmail.com
Abstract: (44 Views)
Internet shutdowns have emerged as a major threat to economic resilience, particularly in countries where digital platforms support a substantial share of employment and commerce. This letter highlights the economic consequences of internet disruptions in Iran by synthesizing recent evidence on financial losses and their impact on digital livelihoods. Although it is difficult to quantify precisely the economic losses, available evidence indicates that internet disruptions impose a heavy economic burden, particularly on small online businesses, freelancers, ride-hailing drivers, digital marketers, and other economic actors who rely on uninterrupted internet access for their operations. Beyond immediate income losses, repeated shutdowns undermine consumer confidence, reduce business productivity, disrupt supply chains, and accelerate the migration of skilled digital workers. To mitigate these harms, the authors propose mandatory economic impact assessments before prolonged internet restrictions and the establishment of a compensation mechanism for affected digital workers. Internet shutdowns should be recognized not only as technological or political measures but also as policies with profound economic and social consequences.
Type of Study: Letter to Editor |
Subject:
General
Received: 2026/08/20 | Revised: 2026/10/11 | Accepted: 2026/10/30
Received: 2026/08/20 | Revised: 2026/10/11 | Accepted: 2026/10/30
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). |
