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Can environmental policy reduce infant mortality ? evidence from the Ganga pollution cases

Author

Listed:
  • Do,Quy-Toan
  • Joshi,Shareen
  • Stolper,Samuel
  • Do,Quy-Toan
  • Joshi,Shareen
  • Stolper,Samuel
Abstract
In many developing countries, environmental quality remains low and policies to improve it have been inconsistently effective. This paper conducts a case study of environmental policy in India, focusing on unprecedented Supreme Court rulings that targeted industrial pollution in the Ganga River. In a difference-in-differences framework, the rulings are found to have precipitated reductions in river pollution and one-month infant mortality, both of which persist for more than a decade. The authors then estimate a pollution-mortality dose-response function across twenty-nine rivers in the Ganga Basin, instrumenting for pollution with its upstream counterpart. The estimation reveals a significant external health burden of river pollution, not just in the district of measurement, but also on downstream communities. It further provides suggestive evidence that reducing pollution was an important driver behind declines in infant mortality observed after the rulings.

Suggested Citation

  • Do,Quy-Toan & Joshi,Shareen & Stolper,Samuel & Do,Quy-Toan & Joshi,Shareen & Stolper,Samuel, 2016. "Can environmental policy reduce infant mortality ? evidence from the Ganga pollution cases," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7799, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7799
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    Cited by:

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    3. Kazuki Motohashi, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Sanitation Investment: Negative Externalities on Water Quality and Health in India," ISER Discussion Paper 1210, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    4. Aggarwal, Khushboo & Barua, Rashmi & Vidal-Fernandez, Marian, 2024. "Still Waters Run Deep: Groundwater Contamination and Education Outcomes in India," IZA Discussion Papers 16863, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Liwei Tang & Ke Li & Pinrong Jia, 2020. "Impact of Environmental Regulations on Environmental Quality and Public Health in China: Empirical Analysis with Panel Data Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Zaveri,Esha Dilip & Russ,Jason Daniel & Desbureaux,Sebastien Gael & Damania,Richard & Rodella,Aude-Sophie & Ribeiro Paiva De Souza,Giovanna, 2020. "The Nitrogen Legacy : The Long-Term Effects of Water Pollution on Human Capital," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9143, The World Bank.
    7. Claire Lepault, 2023. "Is urban wastewater treatment effective in India? Evidence from water quality and infant mortality," CIRED Working Papers hal-04232407, HAL.
    8. Damini Singh & Indrani Gupta & Sagnik Dey, 2022. "Effect of Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance in India," IEG Working Papers 452, Institute of Economic Growth.
    9. Shi, Beibei & Jiang, Lisha & Bao, Rui & Zhang, Ziqing & Kang, YuanQi, 2023. "The impact of insurance on pollution emissions: Evidence from China's environmental pollution liability insurance," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    10. Mettetal, Elizabeth, 2019. "Irrigation dams, water and infant mortality: Evidence from South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 17-40.
    11. Garg, Teevrat & Hamilton, Stuart E. & Hochard, Jacob P. & Kresch, Evan Plous & Talbot, John, 2018. "(Not so) gently down the stream: River pollution and health in Indonesia," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 35-53.
    12. Hongshan Ai & Xiaoqing Tan & Zhen Xia, 2022. "RETRACTED: The Effects of Environmental Regulations on Medical Expenses: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    13. Li, Ping & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2023. "The effects of new energy vehicle subsidies on air quality: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Mélanie Gittard & Irène Hu, 2024. "MiningLeaks Water Pollution and Child Mortality in Africa," CIRED Working Papers halshs-04685390, HAL.
    15. Liao, Liping & Du, Minzhe & Chen, Zhongfei, 2021. "Air pollution, health care use and medical costs: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Law and Justice Institutions; Hydrology; Health Care Services Industry; Global Environment; Pollution Management&Control; Brown Issues and Health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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