Direct and indirect effects of a massive piped water expansion on child-related outcomes

Abstract

We explore the effects of a massive water supply and sanitation expansion on child mortality, schooling, and child labor in Ecuador. We combine census data with project administrative information to identify treated dwellings. A matching differences-in-differences estimator is used to identify treatment effects. We find a child mortality reduction of about 8.1%, an increase in children formal schooling of 1.3%, and a reduction in child labor of 13.7%, all attributable to the intervention. We also find heterogeneous treatment effects suggesting that those in the poorest quartiles benefit the least from the intervention. However, even in the latter case, if a woman had at least primary education, the household may still enjoy benefits.