Marcella Alsan|Claudia Goldin
Watersheds in Child Mortality: The Role of Effective Water and Sewerage Infrastructure, 1880–1920
National Bureau of Economic Research|Stanford University|National Bureau of Economic Research|Harvard University
explore first period sustained decline child mortality united states provide estimates independent combined effects clean water effective sewerage systems under5 mortality case massachusetts 18801920 authorities developed sewerage water district boston area find two interventions complementary together account approximately onethird decline log child mortality 41 years findings relevant developing world suggest piecemeal approach infrastructure investments unlikely significantly improve child health