Household responses to health risks and shocks: A study from rural Tanzania raises some methodological issues.

Abstract

The impact of a health shock (malaria) on household consumption patterns is investigated using a system of demand equations. After controlling for the overall levels of total expenditure by a household, the presence of a self-reported malarious individual in a household reduces consumption of luxury items and increases consumption of health care and products. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that households behave strategically when coping with an illness related shock so as to minimise its impact on expenditure on necessities: if households need to re-allocate funds to health and health care products, they reduce consumption of luxury items.

Citation

Journal of International Development (2010) 21 (2) 200-211 Special Issue: Managing Risks: Household Illness Costs, Coping Strategies and Access to Social Protection. [doi: 10.1002/jid.1555]

Household responses to health risks and shocks: A study from rural Tanzania raises some methodological issues.

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2010