Malaria and Chinese economic activities in Africa

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Cervellati, Matteo; Esposito, Elena; Sunde, Uwe; Yuan, Song
• 署名单位: University of Bologna; IZA Institute Labor Economics; University of Lausanne; University of Munich; Leibniz Association; Ifo Institut; University of Warwick
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2021.102739
• 发表日期: 2022
• 关键词: Infrastructure projects; malaria; Disease prevalence; immunity; Weibo

摘要

We present novel evidence for the influence of malaria exposure on the geographic location of Chinese economic activities in Africa. The hypothesis is based on the observation that many Chinese aid projects and infrastructure contractors rely on Chinese personnel. High malaria exposure might constitute an important impediment to their employment and productivity. Combining data on Chinese aid and construction projects with geo-localized information about the presence of individuals from internet posts reveals a lower density of Chinese activities and of Chinese workers in areas with a high malaria exposure. This effect is mitigated partly through heterogeneity across sectors and immunity of the local population, through the selection of Chinese workers from regions in China with historically high malaria risk, and through the availability of malaria treatment.