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Short-Term Impacts of Solar Lanterns on Child Health: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh

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  • Yuya KUDO
  • Abu S. Shonchoy
  • Kazushi Takahashi

Abstract

We implemented a 16-month randomised field experiment in unelectrified areas of Bangladesh to identify health impacts of solar lanterns among school-aged children. Our analysis of various health-related indicators – self-reporting, spirometers, and professional medical checkups – showed modest improvements in eye redness and irritation but no noticeable improvement in respiratory symptoms among treated students. Varying the number of solar products received within treatment households did not alter these results. This limited health benefit was not caused by nonutilisation of the products by treated children, spillover effects from treated to control students, or contamination resulting from unfavourable family cooking environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuya KUDO & Abu S. Shonchoy & Kazushi Takahashi, 2019. "Short-Term Impacts of Solar Lanterns on Child Health: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(11), pages 2329-2346, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:55:y:2019:i:11:p:2329-2346
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2018.1443207
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Grimm & Luciane Lenz & Jörg Peters & Maximiliane Sievert, 2020. "Demand for Off-Grid Solar Electricity: Experimental Evidence from Rwanda," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 7(3), pages 417-454.
    2. Jamie Cross & Tom Neumark, 2021. "Solar Power and its Discontents: Critiquing Off‐grid Infrastructures of Inclusion in East Africa," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(4), pages 902-926, July.
    3. Mamadou Saliou Barry & Anna Creti, 2020. "Pay-as-you-go contracts for electricity access: bridging the « last mile » gap? A case study in Benin," Working Papers 2006, Chaire Economie du climat.
    4. Wong, Jason Chun Yu & Blankenship, Brian & Harish, S.P. & Urpelainen, Johannes, 2022. "Increasing microsolar technology adoption: Efficacy of vouchers, cash transfers, and microfinance schemes," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    5. Ehsanul Kabir & Ki-Hyun Kim & Jan E. Szulejko, 2017. "Social Impacts of Solar Home Systems in Rural Areas: A Case Study in Bangladesh," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-12, October.
    6. Bensch, Gunther & Grimm, Michael & Huppertz, Maximilian & Langbein, Jörg & Peters, Jörg, 2018. "Are promotion programs needed to establish off-grid solar energy markets? Evidence from rural Burkina Faso," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 1060-1068.
    7. Barry, Mamadou Saliou & Creti, Anna, 2020. "Pay-as-you-go contracts for electricity access: Bridging the “last mile” gap? A case study in Benin," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    8. Coville, Aidan & Graff Zivin, Joshua & Reichert, Arndt & Reitmann, Ann-Kristin, 2025. "Quality signaling and demand for renewable energy technology: Evidence from a randomized field experiment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    9. Mamadou Saliou Barry & Anna Creti, 2020. "Pay-as-you-go contracts for electricity access: Bridging the “last mile” gap? A case study in Benin," Post-Print hal-03148505, HAL.
    10. Kurata, Masamitsu & Takahashi, Kazushi & Hibiki, Akira, 2020. "Gender differences in associations of household and ambient air pollution with child health: Evidence from household and satellite-based data in Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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