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The nutritional cost of beef bans in India

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  • Dasgupta, Aparajita
  • Majid, Farhan
  • Orman, Wafa Hakim

Abstract

We study the impact of beef sale and possession bans in India on women's anemia by leveraging a natural experiment arising from the state-level rollout of beef bans. We hypothesize that these bans differentially affect groups that traditionally eat beef - Muslims, Christians, and Scheduled-Caste Hindus. We compile rich data on beef-ban legislation by states over time and harmonize them with household and individual level data on biomarkers and consumption. Estimating a triple difference-in-differences model, we find that bans reduce women's hemoglobin levels in beef-eating communities by 1.2 g/L and increase severe anemia by 27 percent of the mean level.

Suggested Citation

  • Dasgupta, Aparajita & Majid, Farhan & Orman, Wafa Hakim, 2023. "The nutritional cost of beef bans in India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:163:y:2023:i:c:s0304387823000597
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2023.103104
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Beef bans; Anemia; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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