Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP6001
Authors: Marcel Fafchamps; Forhad Shilpi
Abstract: Using detailed geographical and household survey data from Nepal, this article investigates the relationship between isolation and subjective welfare. This is achieved by examining how distance to markets and proximity to large urban centers affect responses to questions about income and consumption adequacy. Results show that isolation significantly reduce subjective assessments of income and consumption adequacy, even after controlling for consumption expenditures and other factors. Part of this effect can be attributed to lower access to public goods and to a reduction in the variety of consumption items. Equivalent variation estimates suggest that the subjective cost of isolation is large but also that the gain from reduced isolation is largest for households already close to markets.
Keywords: Consumption Adequacy; Geographical Isolation; Subjective Well-Being
JEL Codes: D60; I31; R20
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| isolation (Y40) | subjective welfare (I31) |
| isolation (Y40) | access to public goods (H40) |
| access to public goods (H40) | subjective welfare (I31) |
| isolation (Y40) | income adequacy (D31) |
| isolation (Y40) | consumption adequacy (E21) |
| isolation (Y40) | subjective cost of isolation (J17) |
| reduced isolation (I14) | subjective welfare (I31) |
| isolation (Y40) | distance to markets (R32) |