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Take the highway? Paved roads and well-being in Africa

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  • Djemaï, Elodie
  • Clark, Andrew E.
  • D'Ambrosio, Conchita

Abstract

Public Goods aim to improve individual welfare. We investigate the causal consequences of roads on well-being in 24 African countries, instrumenting paved roads by 19th Century hypothetical lines between major ports and cities. We have data on over 32000 individuals, and consider both their objective and subjective well-being. Roads reduce material deprivation, in terms of access to basic needs, but at the same time there is no relation between roads and subjective living conditions. The benefit of roads in providing basic needs then seems to be offset by worse outcomes in non basic-needs domains.

Suggested Citation

  • Djemaï, Elodie & Clark, Andrew E. & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2021. "Take the highway? Paved roads and well-being in Africa," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 114432, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:114432
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    roads; subjective well-being; basic needs; material deprivation; Africa; wellbeing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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