Can the Major Public Works Policy Buffer Negative Shocks in Early Childhood? Evidence from Andhra Pradesh, India

Bibliographic Data

ID5111353
AuthorsAparajita Dasgupta (0000-0002-3354-7788, Ashoka University, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume65
Issue4
Pages767-804
Publication date2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEconomic Development and Cultural Change (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0013-0079 • E-ISSN: 1539-2988
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1086/691992
OpenAlexW2183965370
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited43

The study examines the role of the largest public works program in the world—the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)—in buffering the negative effects of early childhood exposure to rainfall shocks on long-term health outcomes. Exploiting the spatial and temporal variation in NREGS coverage, the study estimates the extent to which nutritional shocks in early childhood can be offset by access to the program. The study employs a unique identification strategy by integrating detailed administrative records of drought shock and phased rollout information of NREGS with household-level panel data—the Young Lives survey—conducted over three waves (2002, 2007, and 2009–10) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Using individual fixed effects estimation, the study finds that while the policy does not help correct for long-term past health deficiencies it is useful in buffering recent drought shocks, which vary by policy relevant subgroups

Demographic economics · Early childhood · Econometrics · Economic growth · Economics · Estimation · Panel data · Public policy · Shock (circulatory) · Socioeconomics · Agricultural risk and resilience · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology