RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of Early-Life Exposure to Sanitation on Childhood Cognitive Skills: Evidence from India’s Total Sanitation Campaign
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
DO 10.3368/jhr.51.2.0712-5051R1
A1 Spears, Dean
A1 Lamba, Sneha
YR 2015
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2015/11/20/jhr.51.2.0712-5051R1.abstract
AB Early life health shapes cognitive skills and human capital. In India, widespread open defecation without using a toilet is an important source of childhood disease. We study the effects on childhood cognitive achievement of early life exposure to India’s Total Sanitation Campaign, a large government program that encouraged local governments to build latrines and promote their use. We find that the TSC caused six-year-olds exposed to it in their first year of life to be more likely to recognize letters and simple numbers. Our results suggest that open defecation is an important threat to human capital in India.