Working Paper: NBER ID: w27200
Authors: Caitlin S. Brown; Martin Ravallion; Dominique Van De Walle
Abstract: We propose an index of the adequacy of home environments for protection (HEP) from COVID-19, and we compare our index across developing countries using data for one million sampled households from the latest Demographic and Health Surveys. We find that prevailing WHO recommendations for protection posit unrealistic home environments. 90% of households have inadequate HEP by one or more dimensions considered. 40% do not have a formal health-care facility within 5km. A strong wealth effect is indicated within and between countries. Only 6% of the poorest 40% have an adequate HEP, and the proportion is virtually zero in sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: COVID-19; home environment for protection; wealth effect; developing countries
JEL Codes: I14; I15; O15
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Household wealth (G59) | HEP adequacy (I18) |
| Household wealth (G59) | Capacity to protect against COVID-19 (D18) |
| Poor households (I32) | Inadequate HEP (I19) |
| Inadequate HEP (I19) | Ability to comply with WHO recommendations (I14) |
| Wealth effect (E21) | HEP adequacy (I18) |