Working Paper: NBER ID: w19322
Authors: Sebastian Galiani; Paul Gertler; Ryan Cooper; Sebastian Martinez; Adam Ross; Raimundo Undurraga
Abstract: This paper provides empirical evidence on the causal effects that upgrading slum dwellings has on the living conditions of the extremely poor. In particular, we study the impact of providing better houses in situ to slum dwellers in El Salvador, Mexico and Uruguay. We experimentally evaluate the impact of a housing project run by the NGO TECHO which provides basic pre-fabricated houses to members of extremely poor population groups in Latin America. The main objective of the program is to improve household well-being. Our findings show that better houses have a positive effect on overall housing conditions and general well-being: treated households are happier with their quality of life. In two countries, we also document improvements in children's health; in El Salvador, slum dwellers also feel that they are safer. We do not find this result, however, in the other two experimental samples. There are no other noticeable robust effects on the possession of durable goods or in terms of labor outcomes. Our results are robust in terms of both internal and external validity because they are derived from similar experiments in three different Latin American countries.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: C93; D63; O0
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Overall housing conditions (R21) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | General wellbeing (I31) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Happiness with quality of life (I31) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Children's health (I19) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Prevalence of illnesses (I12) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Perceptions of safety (J28) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Possession of durable goods (E21) |
| Upgraded housing conditions (R28) | Labor outcomes (J89) |