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The Green Revolution and Infant Mortality in India

Author

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  • Bharadwaj, Prashant

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Fenske, James

    (University of Warwick)

  • Ali Mirza, Rinchan

    (University of Namur)

  • Kala, Namrata

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

We use a difference in differences approach to show that the adoption of High Yielding Varieties (HYV) reduced infant mortality in India. This holds even comparing children of the same mother. Children of mothers whose characteristics predict higher child mortality, rural children, boys, and low-caste children benefit more from HYV adoption. We find no obvious evidence that parental investments respond to HYV adoption. We find little evidence of selection into child bearing in response to HYV adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Bharadwaj, Prashant & Fenske, James & Ali Mirza, Rinchan & Kala, Namrata, 2018. "The Green Revolution and Infant Mortality in India," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 385, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:385
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    3. Guimbeau, Amanda & Ji, Xinde & Menon, Nidhiya & Long, Zi, 2022. "An Extra Grain of Salt: The Effect of Salinity Exposure on Early Life Health Outcomes in Coastal Bangladesh," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322076, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
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    6. Roland Pongou, 2020. "Is Excess (Fe)Male Mortality Caused by the Prenatal Environment, Child Biology, or Parental Discrimination? New Evidence from Male-Female Twins," Working Papers 2008E Classification-I15,, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    7. Goel, Deepti & Meenakshi, J. V. & De Souza, Zaeen, 2022. "Did the Nation-Wide Implementation of e-FMS in MGNREGS Result in Reduced Expenditures? A Re-Examination of the Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 15484, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. K. L. Krishna & J. V. Meenakshi, 2022. "Agricultural Productivity Growth and Structural Transformation in Rural India: Some Recent Evidence," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 20(1), pages 277-302, September.
    9. Tanguy Bernard & Sylvie Lambert & Karen Macours & Margaux Vinez, 2023. "Impact of small farmers' access to improved seeds and deforestation in DR Congo," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Mateus Dias & Rudi Rocha & Rodrigo R Soares, 2023. "Down the River: Glyphosate Use in Agriculture and Birth Outcomes of Surrounding Populations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(6), pages 2943-2981.
    11. Alfano, Marco, 2022. "Islamic law and investments in children: Evidence from the Sharia introduction in Nigeria," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    12. Dias, Mateus & Rocha, Rudi & Soares, Rodrigo R., 2019. "Glyphosate Use in Agriculture and Birth Outcomes of Surrounding Populations," IZA Discussion Papers 12164, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. von der Goltz, Jan & Dar, Aaditya & Fishman, Ram & Mueller, Nathaniel D. & Barnwal, Prabhat & McCord, Gordon C., 2020. "Health Impacts of the Green Revolution: Evidence from 600,000 births across the Developing World," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
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    15. Tyack, Nicholas, 2020. "Genetic resources and agricultural productivity in the developing world," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304277, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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