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Income, rainfall shocks and health. An instrumental variable approach

Author

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  • Savage, D.
  • Fichera, E.

Abstract

We examine whether income shocks affect a range of health outcomes and a preventative behaviour. We instrument income with rainfall measurements by matching satellite information on timing and positioning of 21 rainfall stations to longitudinal data (1991-1994) of over 4,000 individuals in 51 villages of a North Western region in Tanzania. We find a pro-cyclical effect of income on health. A ten percent increase in income reduces by 0.2 the number of illnesses. A further finding is the positive effect on vaccinations of children under six: a ten percent increase in income implies an increase of about one vaccination, from a mean of 2.3 per child, for the four vaccinations of polio, tetanus, tuberculosis and measles. There is also some evidence of a reduction in chronic malnutrition of children under six. Our results suggest the income effect to offset the increased opportunity cost of time in this data.

Suggested Citation

  • Savage, D. & Fichera, E., 2013. "Income, rainfall shocks and health. An instrumental variable approach," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 13/13, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    • Handle: RePEc:yor:hectdg:13/13
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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Jeanet Martínez Rodríguez, 2017. "Impacto de la ola invernal sobre las dinámicas de uso del tiempo de hogares rurales," Documentos CEDE 15603, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    2. Nicolas Barrantes & Jhonatan Clausen, 2022. "Does Multidimensional Poverty Affect Depression? Evidence from Peru," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 22(2), pages 107-129, April.
    3. Hanandita, Wulung & Tampubolon, Gindo, 2014. "Does poverty reduce mental health? An instrumental variable analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 59-67.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rainfall shocks; Income; Health; Spatial interpolation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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