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Malaria eradication and economic outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Uganda

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  • Barofsky, Jeremy
  • Anekwe, Tobenna D.
  • Chase, Claire

Abstract

This study evaluates the economic consequences of a 1959–1960 malaria eradication campaign in southwestern Uganda. The effort constitutes a rare, large-scale, and well-documented attempt to eliminate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and produced an immediate disease reduction. We use this quasi-experimental health shock to identify long-term changes in educational and economic outcomes. Comparing the treatment district to a similar synthetic control, we find malaria eradication raised educational attainment by about a half year for both males and females, increased primary school completion among females and generated an almost 40% rise in the likelihood of male wage employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Barofsky, Jeremy & Anekwe, Tobenna D. & Chase, Claire, 2015. "Malaria eradication and economic outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Uganda," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 118-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:44:y:2015:i:c:p:118-136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.08.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Menale Kassie & Zewdu Abro & Tesfamicheal Wossen & Samuel T. Ledermann & Gracious Diiro & Shifa Ballo & Lulseged Belayhun, 2020. "Integrated Health Interventions for Improved Livelihoods: A Case Study in Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Gaughan, James & Gutacker, Nils & Grašič, Katja & Kreif, Noemi & Siciliani, Luigi & Street, Andrew, 2019. "Paying for efficiency: Incentivising same-day discharges in the English NHS," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Josselin Thuilliez & Hippolyte d'Albis & Hamidou Niangaly & Ogobara Doumbo, 2017. "Malaria and Education: Evidence from Mali," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE), vol. 26(4), pages 443-469.
    4. Cohen, Jessica & Saran, Indrani, 2018. "The impact of packaging and messaging on adherence to malaria treatment: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Uganda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 68-95.
    5. Pan, Yao & Singhal, Saurabh, 2019. "Agricultural extension, intra-household allocation and malaria," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 157-170.
    6. Ninja Ritter Klejnstrup & Julie Buhl-Wiggers & Sam Jones & John Rand, 2018. "Early life malaria exposure and academic performance," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, June.
    7. Milusheva,Sveta, 2020. "Using Mobile Phone Data to Reduce Spread of Disease," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9198, The World Bank.
    8. Nandi, Arindam & Kumar, Santosh & Shet, Anita & Bloom, David E. & Laxminarayan, Ramanan, 2020. "Childhood vaccinations and adult schooling attainment: Long-term evidence from India's Universal Immunization Programme," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    9. Shampa Bhattacharjee & Aparajita Dasgupta, 2019. "Disease eradication, infant mortality and fertility response :Evidence from malaria eradication in India," Working Papers 22, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Malaria; Malaria eradication; Human capital; Economic development; Uganda;

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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