Roads and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa

Luisito Bertinelli (), Evie Graus, Jean-François Maystadt and Silvia Peracchi ()
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Luisito Bertinelli: DEM, Université du Luxembourg
Jean-François Maystadt: UC Louvain, B
Silvia Peracchi: UC Louvain, B

DEM Discussion Paper Series from Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg

Abstract: This paper examines the causal impact of road access on child health in Sub-Saharan Africa between 1980 and 2012 by combining geolocated data on child anthropometric outcomes with spatial data on road networks. To address endogeneity, we employ an instrumental variable approach based on the inconsequential units framework, constructing hypothetical road networks that connect historical cities and active mines. Our results show that closer proximity to paved roads significantly improves child health. The main mechanisms operate through improved healthcare access and utilization, higher household wealth, early signs of structural transformation, and cropland expansion. We find no evidence that these gains are offset by adverse environmental or epidemiological effects of improved road access. Overall, the findings underscore the role of road infrastructure in fostering development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: roads; Sub-Saharan Africa; child health; causal analysis. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 O15 O18 O55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-hea and nep-tre
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https://hdl.handle.net/10993/66258 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Roads and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa (2025)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:luc:wpaper:25-18

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