Spillovers without Social Interactions in Urban Sanitation

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Deutschmann, Joshua W.; Lipscomb, Molly; Schechter, Laura; Zhu, Jessica
• 署名单位: University of Chicago; University of Virginia; University of Virginia; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20220047
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 482-515
• 关键词: interventions; diarrhea; water; externalities; subsidies; networks; HEALTH; shame

摘要

We run a randomized controlled trial coupled with lab -in -the -field social network experiments in urban Dakar. Decision spillovers and health externalities play a large role in determining uptake of sanitation technology, with decision spillovers being largest among households that don't receive significant subsidies. There is no evidence that the spillovers are explained by social forces in general, nor by specific social mechanisms such as learning from others, social pressure, or reciprocity. We do find evidence of a fourth, nonsocial, mechanism impacting decisions: increasing health benefits. As more neighbors adopt the sanitary technology, it becomes more worthwhile for other households to adopt as well.