Watersheds in Child Mortality: The Role of Effective Water and Sewerage Infrastructure, 1880–1920
研究了美国马萨诸塞州1880-1920年间清洁供水和排污系统对五岁以下儿童死亡率下降的独立和联合影响，发现两者互补，共同解释了约三分之一的死亡率下降，对发展中国家有借鉴意义。
We explore the first period of sustained decline in child mortality in the U.S. and provide estimates of the independent and combined effects of clean water and effective sewerage systems on under-five mortality. Our case is Massachusetts, 1880 to 1920, when authorities developed a sewerage and water district in the Boston area. We find the two interventions were complementary and together account for approximately one-third of the decline in log child mortality during the 41 years. Our findings are relevant to the developing world and suggest that a piecemeal approach to infrastructure investments is unlikely to significantly improve child health.