Health and hunger: Can an improving disease environment explain the Indian calorie consumption decline puzzle?
— Research, Sanitation — 1 min read
Authors: Josephine Duh, Dean Spears
Published in: The Economic Journal
Abstract:
India's experience presents a puzzle at odds with a basic fact of household economics: amidst unprecedented economic growth, average per capita daily calorie consumption has declined in recent decades. Does an improving disease environment explain the calorie decline? A diminished burden of infectious disease could lower energy needs by increasing absorption and effective use of calories.
We document a robust effect of disease exposure measured as infant mortality and as poor sanitation on calorie consumption. Similar effects are found using multiple datasets and empirical strategies. Disease can account for an important fraction (one-fifth or more) of India's calorie decline.