American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Urban Water Disinfection and Mortality Decline in Lower-Income Countries
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 13,
no. 4, November 2021
(pp. 490–520)
Abstract
Historically, improvements in municipal water quality led to substantial mortality decline in today's wealthy countries. However, water disinfection has not consistently produced large benefits in lower-income countries. We study this issue by analyzing a large-scale municipal water disinfection program in Mexico that increased water chlorination coverage in urban areas from 58 percent to over 90 percent within 18 months. We estimate that the program reduced childhood diarrheal disease mortality rates by 45 to 67 percent. However, inadequate sanitation infrastructure and age (degradation) of water pipes may have attenuated these benefits substantially.Citation
Bhalotra, Sonia R., Alberto Diaz-Cayeros, Grant Miller, Alfonso Miranda, and Atheendar S. Venkataramani. 2021. "Urban Water Disinfection and Mortality Decline in Lower-Income Countries." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 13 (4): 490–520. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20180764Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I12 Health Behavior
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- L95 Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- O18 Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
- Q25 Renewable Resources and Conservation: Water
- Q53 Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
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