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Disease eradication, infant mortality and fertility response :Evidence from malaria eradication in India

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  • Shampa Bhattacharjee

    () (Shiv Nadar University)

  • Aparajita Dasgupta

    () (Ashoka University)

Abstract

Disease environment and demographic change plays a critical role in determining the size and quality of human capital that drives the growth path of an economy. While broad patterns of demographic transition are understood there is a mixed evidence on the role of disease eradication in expediting demographic change. Using the massive malaria eradication program in India during the 1950's as a natural experiment, we examine the effect of disease environment on infant mortality and fertility response at household level. We harmonize a rich database on malaria endemicity with fertility histories of women to exploit the cohort level variation in exposure to the program. We find that the program leads to a significant decline in infant and neonatal mortality and leads to a significant increase in probability of birth in high malaria-endemic regions. We confirm the mechanism of fall in mother's age at first birth in post eradication period drives the fertility response.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ash:wpaper:22
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    Keywords

    Malaria; Selection Bias; Disease eradication; Infant Mortality; Fertility;

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