Internet, work, and welfare: How digitalization affects Indonesia’s Mompreneur

This study examines the influence of internet access on the likelihood of mothers becoming entrepreneurs, commonly referred to as mompreneurs, and explores the implications of mompreneurship for household welfare in Indonesia. Amid growing economic pressures, mothers are playing an increasingly vital role in sustaining household income, particularly as digital tools and internet connectivity open up new entrepreneurial opportunities. Utilizing secondary data from the 2023 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS), this study applies binary logistic and multinomial logistic regression models to assess the determinants of mompreneurship and its association with household poverty status. The findings reveal that internet access significantly increases the likelihood of mothers engaging in entrepreneurial activities by enhancing access to markets, information, and flexible business management. However, single mothers are less likely to become mompreneurs, primarily due to their greater need for stable and predictable income sources. While mompreneurship contributes to poverty reduction by generating supplementary income, it remains insufficient to elevate households into middle- or upper-income classes. These results highlight the importance of expanding affordable internet infrastructure and improving access to microcredit tailored to women-led businesses. Moreover, subsidized childcare and flexible work arrangements are crucial for overcoming structural barriers to economic participation.