We estimate flexible child health production functions to investigate whether more hygienic environments, characterized by better water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices, make nutrition intake more productive for the physical growth of children aged 6-24 months. Using ten rounds of exceptionally rich longitudinal Filipino cohort data, we estimate value-added production functions with a control function approach. We show that WASH and nutrition are complements in the formation of child height and weight. Nutritional and WASH conditions faced by sample children are similar to those currently encountered by poor children in low-income settings with comparable stunting rates.
Authors
Laura Abramovsky
Laura is a Research Fellow at IFS. Her current work focuses on tax and social protection policy and programme evaluation in developing countries.
Britta Augsburg
Britta is an IFS Associate Director, Associate Staff at the Department of Economics at the UC and Researcher at NIHR Obesity Policy Research Unit.
Pamela Jervis
Pamela is a Research Associate of the IFS and Assistant Professor of Economics at the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Chile.
Bansi Malde
Bansi is a Research Fellow of the IFS, a Senior Lecturer of Economics at the City, University of London and also a Fellow at the Global Labor Organisa
Angus Phimister
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