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Impact of the West African Ebola Epidemic on Agricultural Production and Rural Welfare: Evidence from Liberia

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  • Alejandro de la Fuente
  • Hanan G Jacoby
  • Kotchikpa Gabriel Lawin

Abstract

The 2014-15 Ebola epidemic took a devastating human and economic toll on three West African countries, of which Liberia was perhaps the hardest hit. The pathways through which the crisis affected economic activity in these largely agrarian societies remain poorly understood. To study these mechanisms in the context of rural Liberia, we link a geographically disaggregated indicator of Ebola disease mortality to nationally representative household survey data on agricultural production and consumption. We find that higher Ebola prevalence (as proxied by local mortality) led to greater disruption of group-labor mobilization for planting and harvest, thereby reducing rice area planted as well as rice yields. Household welfare, measured by per capita expenditures spanning two points before and after the crisis, fell by more in Ebola prevalent areas with more intensive rice-farming, precisely those areas more adversely affected by agricultural labor shortages.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro de la Fuente & Hanan G Jacoby & Kotchikpa Gabriel Lawin, 2020. "Impact of the West African Ebola Epidemic on Agricultural Production and Rural Welfare: Evidence from Liberia," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 29(5), pages 454-474.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:29:y:2020:i:5:p:454-474.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jae/ejaa002
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    Cited by:

    1. Baumüller, Heike & Kubik, Zaneta & Dallimore, Anthea & Getahun, Tigabu Degu & Velia, Myriam, 2021. "Impact of Covid-19 on Africa’s Food and Beverage Manufacturing Companies: Evidence from Selected African Countries," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315183, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Chundakkadan, Radeef & Nedumparambil, Elizabeth, 2022. "In search of COVID-19 and stock market behavior," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Jedwab, Remi & Khan, Amjad M. & Russ, Jason & Zaveri, Esha D., 2021. "Epidemics, pandemics, and social conflict: Lessons from the past and possible scenarios for COVID-19," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. Daniel de Kadt & Johan Fourie & Jan Greyling & Elie Murard & Johannes Norling, 2021. "Correlates and Consequences of the 1918 Influenza in South Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 89(2), pages 173-195, June.
    5. Acosta, Alejandro & McCorriston, Steve & Nicolli, Francesco & Venturelli, Ester & Wickramasinghe, Upali & ArceDiaz, Eduardo & Scudiero, Lavinia & Sammartino, Alejandro & Schneider, Fritz & Steinfeld, , 2021. "Immediate effects of COVID-19 on the global dairy sector," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Begoña Cabeza; & Shaun Da Costa;, 2023. "Taxation for development: the impact of the Ebola epidemic on citizen support across Western Africa," Working Papers 2307, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    7. Daniel de Kadt & Johan Fourie & Jan Greyling & Elie Murard & Johannes Norling, 2020. "The causes and consequences of the 1918 influenza in South Africa," Working Papers 12/2020, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    8. Nolte, Kerstin & Sipangule, Kacana & Wendt, Niels, 2022. "Agricultural households in times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic, livelihoods and land-use decisions," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 261843, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    9. Remi Jedwab & Amjad M. Khan & Richard Damania & Jason Russ & Esha D. Zaveri, 2020. "Pandemics, Poverty, and Social Cohesion: Lessons from the Past and Possible Solutions for COVID-19," Working Papers 2020-13, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    10. Nicola Francesconi & Fleur Wouterse & Dorothy Birungi Namuyiga, 2021. "Agricultural Cooperatives and COVID-19 in Southeast Africa. The Role of Managerial Capital for Rural Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-13, January.
    11. Feuerbacher, Arndt & McDonald, Scott & Thierfelder, Karen, 2020. "Peasant Households and Pandemic Viral Diseases," MPRA Paper 100867, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Adjognon, Guigonan Serge & Bloem, Jeffrey R. & Sanoh, Aly, 2021. "The coronavirus pandemic and food security: Evidence from Mali," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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