Natural Resource Management and Nutrition Outcomes: A Quasi-experimental Evaluation of Fisheries Decentralisation in Laos

Benjamin Chipperfield
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Benjamin Chipperfield: Monash University

Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers from Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers

Abstract: We estimate the impact of a national fisheries decentralisation policy on the nutritional status of children in Lao PDR. Using a double robust estimator that combines propensity score and OLS regression, our results show that the causal impacts of this policy are heterogeneous and driven by nutritional gains among younger children living in villages that rely more heavily on natural resources, with girls benefiting more than boys. We identify higher consumption of fish as one mechanism that explains these gains. This change is not accompanied by greater allocation of time to fishing or investment in fishing assets, allaying fears that decentralisation of fisheries management may lead to over-exploitation of local resources. Our findings show that nationally implemented decentralised natural resources management policies can improve welfare.

Keywords: Fisheries decentralisation; Laos; Height for age z-score JEL Classification: Q22; Q28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-ban, nep-dev, nep-env and nep-sea
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wrk:wrkesp:19

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