The Illusion of Sustainability

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2007
Volume: 122
Issue: 3
Pages: 1007-1065

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use a randomized evaluation of a Kenyan deworming program to estimate peer effects in technology adoption and to shed light on foreign aid donors' movement towards sustainable community provision of public goods. Deworming is a public good since much of its social benefit comes through reduced disease transmission. People were less likely to take deworming if their direct first-order or indirect second-order social contacts were exposed to deworming. Efforts to replace subsidies with sustainable worm control measures were ineffective: a drug cost-recovery program reduced take-up 80 percent; health education did not affect behavior, and a mobilization intervention failed. At least in this context, it appears unrealistic for a one-time intervention to generate sustainable voluntary local public goods provision.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:122:y:2007:i:3:p:1007-1065.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25