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The power of markets: Impact of desert locust invasions on child health

Author

Listed:
  • Bruno Conte

    (UNIBO - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna = University of Bologna)

  • Lavinia Piemontese

    (Bocconi University [Milan, Italy])

  • Augustin Tapsoba

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse)

Abstract

This paper investigates the consequences of the 2004 locust plague in Mali. We argue that in agricultural economies with a single harvest per year, this type of shock can affect households through two channels: first, a speculative/anticipatory effect that kicks in during the growing season, followed by a local crop failure effect after harvest. We document a substantial impact of the plague on crop price inflation before the harvest. Regarding health setbacks, children subject only to the speculative/anticipatory effect suffered as much as those exposed to the actual crop failure effect. The latter is more severe for children born in isolated areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Conte & Lavinia Piemontese & Augustin Tapsoba, 2023. "The power of markets: Impact of desert locust invasions on child health," Post-Print hal-03946218, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03946218
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102712
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    Cited by:

    1. Marending, Myriam & Tripodi, Stefano, 2022. "Gone with the Wind: The Welfare Effect of Desert Locust Outbreaks," Working Papers 1-2022, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Desert locust swarms; Agricultural shocks; Local markets; Child health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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