| |
|
|
|
For Want of a Cup: The Rise of Tea in England and the Impact of Water Quality on Economic Development
|
|
|
| |
|
IZA Seminar |
Place: Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 9, 53113 Bonn |
Date: 24.05.2016, 12:00 - 13:30 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Abstract: |
This paper explores the impact of water quality on long-run economic development by exploiting a natural experiment - the rise of tea consumption in 18th century England. This resulted in an unintentional increase in consumption of boiled water,thereby reducing mortality rates. The methodology uses two identification strategies tying areas with lower initial water quality to larger declines in mortality rates after tea drinking became widespread and following larger volumes of tea imports. Results are robust to the inclusion of controls for income and access to trade. The hypothesis is further bolstered by evidence from
cause-specific deaths and early childhood mortality. |
| |
|
Download complete paper  |
| |
|
|
For more information, please contact seminar@iza.org
|
