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Water Works: The Economic Impact of Water Infrastructure

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  • Robyn C. Meeks

Abstract

Billions of hours are spent each year on water collection in developing countries. This paper explores whether improvements in water technologies, which decrease household distance to drinking water source and the time intensity of home production, enable changes in household time allocation and, thereby, productivity gains in Kyrgyzstan. Adults reallocate time to leisure and labor on the household farm. Average yearly household cereals production increased significantly. Results imply a rate of return to labor equaling $0.11/hour, approximately half the hourly farm wage. Absent evidence of improved adult health, results suggest that productivity gains were realized primarily through increased farm labor.

Suggested Citation

  • Robyn C. Meeks, 2017. "Water Works: The Economic Impact of Water Infrastructure," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 52(4), pages 1119-1153.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:52:y:2017:i:4:p:1119-1153
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.52.4.0915-7408R1
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/52/4/1119
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sedai, Ashish Kumar, 2021. "Who Benefits from Piped Water in the House? Empirical Evidence from a Gendered Analysis in India," ADBI Working Papers 1273, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    2. Small, Sarah F. & van der Meulen Rodgers, Yana, 2023. "The gendered effects of investing in physical and social infrastructure," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    3. Joseph Cook & Jane Kabubo-Mariara & Peter Kimuyu, 2022. "Happy at Work in Africa? Measuring Hedonic Well-Being Among Water Carriers in Rural Kenya Using the Experience Sampling Method," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2449-2468, August.
    4. Ben Gilbert & Hannah Gagarin & Ben Hoen, 2023. "Geographic Spillovers of Wind Energy Development on Wages and Employment," Working Papers 2023-01, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    5. Alexandru Pavel & Bogdan Moldovan & Bogdana Neamtu & Cristina Hintea, 2018. "Are Investments in Basic Infrastructure the Magic Wand to Boost the Local Economy of Rural Communities from Romania?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-32, September.
    6. Fareena Noor Malhi, 2022. "Going beyond the surface: heterogeneous effect of on-site water access for women," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(2), pages 461-491, July.
    7. Xuhang Shen & Ziqi Wang & Shi Li, 2023. "Access to Piped Water and Off-Farm Work Participation: Evidence from Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    8. Robyn Meeks & Katharine R. E. Sims & Hope Thompson, 2019. "Waste Not: Can Household Biogas Deliver Sustainable Development?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 72(3), pages 763-794, March.
    9. Meeks, Robyn, 2018. "Property Rights and Water Access: Evidence from Land Titling in Rural Peru," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 345-357.
    10. Li, Li & Xiao, Yun, 2023. "Beyond boiling: The effect of in utero exposure to treated tap water on childhood health," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    11. Choudhuri, Pallavi & Desai, Sonalde, 2021. "Lack of access to clean fuel and piped water and children’s educational outcomes in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    12. Agénor, Pierre-Richard & Agénor, Madina, 2023. "Access to infrastructure and women’s time allocation: Implications for growth and gender equality," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Zolfaghari, Mehdi & Kabiri, Mahbobe & Saadatmanesh, Hamideh, 2020. "Impact of socio-economic infrastructure investments on income inequality in Iran," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 1146-1168.

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