Using Financial Incentives to Encourage Sanitation Investments
Author Information
Author(s): Gautam Sanghmitra, Gechter Michael, Guiteras Raymond P., Mobarak Ahmed Mushfiq
Primary Institution: Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, MIT, Harvard Kennedy School, North Carolina State University, Yale University
Hypothesis
Do financial incentives improve the adoption of improved sanitation compared to non-financial interventions?
Conclusion
Financial incentives generally lead to higher adoption rates of improved sanitation compared to information and education campaigns.
Supporting Evidence
- Financial incentives significantly increased sanitation ownership in Bangladesh and India.
- Microcredit in Cambodia led to a substantial increase in latrine ownership.
- CLTS interventions without financial incentives did not significantly improve sanitation ownership.
Takeaway
This study found that giving people money or loans to buy toilets helps them get better sanitation more than just telling them to use toilets.
Methodology
The study conducted a systematic re-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on sanitation interventions across four countries, harmonizing data for consistent outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on self-reported data and the specific contexts of the included studies.
Limitations
The study only included RCTs with publicly available microdata, limiting the scope of included studies.
Participant Demographics
The studies included households from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, and Indonesia, focusing on those without access to improved sanitation at baseline.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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