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Curse of the Good Rains - The Long-Run Impacts of Locust Infestations: Evidence from the 1986-89 Locust Plague in the Sahel

Manthey, Sebastian LU (2020) EKHS42 20201
Department of Economic History
Abstract
This thesis estimates the long-run impacts of a desert locust plague, which lasted from 1986 to 1989. It considers the effect of in utero exposure and during young ages for both men and women. The analysis is based on DHS surveys from the Sahel countries Senegal, Mali and Chad and data on locust infestations to derive the impact of the plague on adult education and height outcomes. The focus of this thesis is on rural individuals born between 1980 and 1990. Results initially show no negative impact of the locust plague on both men and women. After stratifying by education levels, though, there is a significant negative impact of the locust plague on men from below-median education clusters. The evidence is clearest for those affected... (More)
This thesis estimates the long-run impacts of a desert locust plague, which lasted from 1986 to 1989. It considers the effect of in utero exposure and during young ages for both men and women. The analysis is based on DHS surveys from the Sahel countries Senegal, Mali and Chad and data on locust infestations to derive the impact of the plague on adult education and height outcomes. The focus of this thesis is on rural individuals born between 1980 and 1990. Results initially show no negative impact of the locust plague on both men and women. After stratifying by education levels, though, there is a significant negative impact of the locust plague on men from below-median education clusters. The evidence is clearest for those affected during the first two life of years. The results for women are mixed with no apparent negative impact on education levels. However, height outcomes indicate towards a persistent negative effect of the plague, in particular for those affected in utero and during their first year of life. The obtained results add to the yet sparse evidence on the economic and social impacts of locust plagues and implies that further efforts to prevent the occurrence of locust plagues are important. Particularly in the context of the Sahel region, which is object to a variety of climatic and man-made disasters, adverse income shocks can have persistent effects. (Less)
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author
Manthey, Sebastian LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS42 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Income Shocks, Child Health, Education, Natural Disasters, Sahel
language
English
id
9019872
date added to LUP
2020-07-03 12:22:20
date last changed
2020-12-07 06:12:53
@misc{9019872,
  abstract     = {{This thesis estimates the long-run impacts of a desert locust plague, which lasted from 1986 to 1989. It considers the effect of in utero exposure and during young ages for both men and women. The analysis is based on DHS surveys from the Sahel countries Senegal, Mali and Chad and data on locust infestations to derive the impact of the plague on adult education and height outcomes. The focus of this thesis is on rural individuals born between 1980 and 1990. Results initially show no negative impact of the locust plague on both men and women. After stratifying by education levels, though, there is a significant negative impact of the locust plague on men from below-median education clusters. The evidence is clearest for those affected during the first two life of years. The results for women are mixed with no apparent negative impact on education levels. However, height outcomes indicate towards a persistent negative effect of the plague, in particular for those affected in utero and during their first year of life. The obtained results add to the yet sparse evidence on the economic and social impacts of locust plagues and implies that further efforts to prevent the occurrence of locust plagues are important. Particularly in the context of the Sahel region, which is object to a variety of climatic and man-made disasters, adverse income shocks can have persistent effects.}},
  author       = {{Manthey, Sebastian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Curse of the Good Rains - The Long-Run Impacts of Locust Infestations: Evidence from the 1986-89 Locust Plague in the Sahel}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}