Sewers’ diffusion and the decline of mortality: The case of Paris, 1880–1914

Article dans une revue: It is common to argue that water infrastructure innovations improve life expectancy. Yet the benefits of clean water depend on a mechanism to dispose of waste water. We draw on the historical experience of a large industrial city to estimate the impact of the spread of the sewer system. Using a longitudinal data set on mortality and rents for each of Paris’ 80 neighborhoods we show that sanitation contributed several years to life expectancy. These results point out the multiplicity of infrastructure needed to help decrease mortality.

Auteur(s)

Lionel Kesztenbaum, Jean-Laurent Rosenthal

Revue
  • Journal of Urban Economics
Date de publication
  • 2017
Mots-clés
  • Differential mortality
  • Wealth
  • Urbanization
  • Paris
  • Sanitation
Pages
  • 174-186
Version
  • 1
Volume
  • 98