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Urban water disinfection and mortality decline in developing countries

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  • Bhalotra, Sonia
  • Diaz-Cayeros, Alberto
  • Miller, Grant
  • Miranda, Alfonso
  • S. Venkataramani, Atheendar

Abstract

Historically, improvements municipal drinking water quality contributed significantly to mortality decline in wealthy countries. However, water disinfection has not produced equivalent benefits in developing countries today. We investigate this puzzle by analyzing a large-scale municipal water disinfection program in Mexico in 1991 that dramatically increased access to chlorinated water. On average, we find that the program led to a 37 to 48% decline in diarrheal mortality among children and was highly cost-effective ($1,310 per life-year saved). However, age (degradation) of water pipes and insufficient complementary sanitation infrastructure attenuated these benefits. Countervailing behavioral responses, although present, appear to be less important.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhalotra, Sonia & Diaz-Cayeros, Alberto & Miller, Grant & Miranda, Alfonso & S. Venkataramani, Atheendar, 2017. "Urban water disinfection and mortality decline in developing countries," ISER Working Paper Series 2017-04, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:ese:iserwp:2017-04
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bertoli, Simone & Guichard, Lucas & Marchetta, Francesca, 2020. "Turnout in the Municipal Elections of March 2020 and Excess Mortality during the COVID-19 Epidemic in France," IZA Discussion Papers 13335, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. D. Mark Anderson & Kerwin Kofi Charles & Daniel I. Rees, 2018. "Public Health Efforts and the Decline in Urban Mortality," NBER Working Papers 25027, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. repec:rre:publsh:v:51:y:2021:i:1 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Gathmann, Christina, 2019. "Proportional Representation, Political Responsiveness and Child Mortality," IZA Discussion Papers 12729, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Araújo, Daniel & Carrillo, Bladimir & Sampaio, Breno, 2021. "The Long-Run Economic Consequences of Iodine Supplementation," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Charris, Carlos & Branco, Danyelle & Carrillo, Bladimir, 2024. "Economic shocks and infant health: Evidence from a trade reform in Brazil," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts

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