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Segregation and the Initial Provision of Water in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Brian Beach
  • John Parman
  • Martin H. Saavedra

Abstract

U.S. cities invested heavily in water and sewer infrastructure throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These investments improved public health and quality of life by helping U.S. cities control typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases. We show that segregated cities invested in water infrastructure earlier but were slower to reach universal access and slower to eliminate typhoid fever. We develop a theoretical model that illustrates how segregation, by facilitating the exclusion of Black households from water and sewer systems, explains these seemingly paradoxical findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Beach & John Parman & Martin H. Saavedra, 2022. "Segregation and the Initial Provision of Water in the United States," NBER Working Papers 29678, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29678
    Note: DAE EH PE POL
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Gallardo-Albarrán, 2024. "The Global Sanitary Revolution in Historical Perspective," Working Papers 0247, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    2. Albers, Thilo N.H. & Kappner, Kalle, 2023. "Perks and pitfalls of city directories as a micro-geographic data source," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy

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