Article

The power of markets: Impact of desert locust invasions on child health

Bruno Conte, Lavinia Piemontese et Augustin Tapsoba

Résumé

This paper investigates the consequences of the 2004 locust plague in Mali. We argue that in agricultural economies with a single harvest per year, this type of shock can affect households through two channels: first, a speculative/anticipatory effect that kicks in during the growing season, followed by a local crop failure effect after harvest. We document a substantial impact of the plague on crop price inflation before the harvest. Regarding health setbacks, children subject only to the speculative/anticipatory effect suffered as much as those exposed to the actual crop failure effect. The latter is more severe for children born in isolated areas.

Mots-clés

Desert locust swarms; Agricultural shocks; Local markets; Child health;

Codes JEL

  • O12: Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
  • I15: Health and Economic Development
  • Q12: Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
  • Q18: Agricultural Policy • Food Policy

Remplace

Bruno Conte, Lavinia Piemontese et Augustin Tapsoba, « The Power of Markets: Impact of Desert Locust Invasions on Child Health », TSE Working Paper, n° 20-1069, janvier 2020, révision novembre 2022.

Référence

Bruno Conte, Lavinia Piemontese et Augustin Tapsoba, « The power of markets: Impact of desert locust invasions on child health », Journal of Health Economics, vol. 87, n° 102712, janvier 2023.

Publié dans

Journal of Health Economics, vol. 87, n° 102712, janvier 2023