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The Impact of Improved Access to Safe Water on Childhood Health, Schooling and Time Allocation 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 supremely safe water at newly built boreholes on the health, schooling and time allocation of children in rural Zambia. We employ a difference-in-difference estimation using a dataset collected under a quasi-experimental setting. We observe positive and significant effects of improved access to safe water on the reduction of incidence of diarrhea for pre-school children but not for school age children. On the other hand, we do not find any positive effect on school attendance and even suggest that there is a negative effect on girls living surrounding new boreholes. To understand the mechanism behind this pattern, we examine any changes in the use of time by children with easier access to safe water. We find for girls a significant increase in time spent on water-related household chores including fetching water. Moreover, we observe a significant decrease in the incomegenerating activities of girls. These findings, together with the suggestive evidence of increased demand for supremely safe water available at boreholes with easier access, imply that the burden of water-related household chores appears to shift from mothers to daughters.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:2020-022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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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. "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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fetching water; borehole; waterborne diseases; Zambia; time use;
    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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