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Impacts of improved rural roads on the well-being of Cambodian villagers

Author

Listed:
  • TIEN MANH VU

    (Faculty of Global Management, Chuo University)

  • Hiroyuki Yamada

    (Faculty of Economics, Keio University)

Abstract

We examine impacts of improved rural roads on villagers, using panel data of Cambodian villages (2006-2021). We find an association between the wealth of villagers and the improvement of rural roads. A higher minimum price for rice at farm gate may be one of the reasons for the increase in wealth. We also find impacts of improved rural roads on (reducing) illiteracy rates among villagers. However, we do not find any statistically significant impacts on school enrollment rate, structural change, or internal migration. Instead, improved rural roads lead to a higher share of families being subjected to environmental pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • TIEN MANH VU & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2024. "Impacts of improved rural roads on the well-being of Cambodian villagers," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2024-016, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:2024-016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yasuharu Shimamura & Satoshi Shimizutani & Eiji Yamada & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2023. "On the inclusiveness of rural road improvement: Evidence from Morocco," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1721-1745, August.
    2. Anjali Adukia & Sam Asher & Paul Novosad, 2020. "Educational Investment Responses to Economic Opportunity: Evidence from Indian Road Construction," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(1), pages 348-376, January.
    3. Ariella Kahn-Lang & Kevin Lang, 2020. "The Promise and Pitfalls of Differences-in-Differences: Reflections on 16 and Pregnant and Other Applications," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 613-620, July.
    4. Shohei Nakamura & Tom Bundervoet & Mohammed Nuru, 2020. "Rural Roads, Poverty, and Resilience: Evidence from Ethiopia," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 1838-1855, October.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy
    • R42 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government and Private Investment Analysis; Road Maintenance; Transportation Planning

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