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Improved Access to Safe Water: Effects on Adult Health and Time Reallocation in Rural Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Yasuharu Shimamura

    (Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University)

  • Satoshi Shimizutani

    (JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development)

  • Shimpei Taguchi

    (JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development, Research Program Division)

  • Hiroyuki Yamada

    (Faculty of Economics, Keio University)

Abstract

This paper examines the short term impact of improved access to safe water on adult health and time allocation at newly constructed boreholes in rural Zambia. We employ a difference-in-differences estimation using a dataset collected under a quasiexperimental setting. We observe a significant effect of improved access to safe water on reduction of diarrheal incidence for working-age adults and a resulting decrease in the number of days during which they could not perform their regular activities due to diarrhea, although the economic benefits resulting from health impacts were very limited. With respect to time allocation, we find that improved access to safe water reduced time spent on water-related household chores, including fetching water for female adults who live with female children, suggesting that burden of water-related household chores shifted from female adults to young girls. We do not observe any significant increase in time spent on income- generating activities. Instead, the time-gain benefit for working-age adults can be found in leisure time, particularly among females who live near the new boreholes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasuharu Shimamura & Satoshi Shimizutani & Shimpei Taguchi & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2020. "Improved Access to Safe Water: Effects on Adult Health and Time Reallocation in Rural Zambia," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2020-024, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:2020-024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Isabel Günther & Youdi Schipper, 2013. "Pumps, Germs And Storage: The Impact Of Improved Water Containers On Water Quality And Health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(7), pages 757-774, July.
    2. Elena Gross & Isabel Günther & Youdi Schipper, 2018. "Women Are Walking and Waiting for Water: The Time Value of Public Water Supply," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 66(3), pages 489-517.
    3. Michael Kremer, 2007. "What Works in Fighting Diarrheal Diseases in Developing Countries? A Critical Review," NBER Working Papers 12987, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Michael Kremer & Jessica Leino & Edward Miguel & Alix Peterson Zwane, 2011. "Spring Cleaning: Rural Water Impacts, Valuation, and Property Rights Institutions," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(1), pages 145-205.
    5. Sorenson, Susan B. & Morssink, Christiaan & Campos, Paola Abril, 2011. "Safe access to safe water in low income countries: Water fetching in current times," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(9), pages 1522-1526, May.
    6. Yasuharu Shimamura & Satoshi Shimizutani & Shimpei Taguchi & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2020. "The Impact of Improved Access to Safe Water on Childhood Health, Schooling and Time Allocation in Rural Zambia," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2020-022, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    7. Florencia Devoto & Esther Duflo & Pascaline Dupas & William Parienté & Vincent Pons, 2012. "Happiness on Tap: Piped Water Adoption in Urban Morocco," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 68-99, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yasuharu Shimamura & Satoshi Shimizutani & Shimpei Taguchi & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2021. "Economic Valuation of Safe Water from New Boreholes in Rural Zambia: A Coping Cost Approach with Estimates of Internal Rate of Return," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2021-009, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    2. Yasuharu Shimamura & Satoshi Shimizutani & Shimpei Taguchi & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2020. "The Impact of Improved Access to Safe Water on Childhood Health, Schooling and Time Allocation in Rural Zambia," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2020-022, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fetching water; borehole; diarrhea; time use; Zambia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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