Road Access, Fertility, and Child Health in Rural India

Bibliographic Data

ID4121772
AuthorsAparajita Dasgupta (0000-0002-3354-7788, corresponding author), Anahita Karandikar, Devvrat Raghav
Year2024
Volume50
Issue1
Pages117-147
Publication date2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePopulation and Development Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0098-7921 • E-ISSN: 1728-4457
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/padr.12604
OpenAlexW4391613441
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited57

Expansion in access to public infrastructure can have varied, microlevel impacts. In this paper, we use a discrete and quasi-random change in the access to paved roads through a large-scale rural road construction program in India to study how road access impacts fertility decisions and investments in child health. We find that increased access to paved roads at the district level decreases fertility, improves investments in children, and lowers infant mortality. We also provide evidence that highlights the mechanisms that drive this effect. First, we show that local roads improve access to health care facilities and raise immunization rates, which reduces infant mortality. Then, we demonstrate that last-mile road connectivity has contrasting effects on employment across gender. Overall, the evidence suggests that rural roads can help accelerate demographic transition through their effects on fertility and infant mortality

Business · Child mortality · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Family planning · Fertility · Geography · Infant mortality · Population · Research methodology · Rural area · Scale (ratio) · Socioeconomics · Total fertility rate · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

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