Abstract
Abstract This paper uses primary micro-data from Indian households residing in rural villages and poor urban neighbourhoods to shed light on household sanitation decision-making. We use a theoretical economic model to reduce the dimensionality and complexity of this process. Beyond the most commonly analysed motivator, health, we consider economic and non-pecuniary benefits. We provide empirical evidence that each of these margins matter, and do so in both rural and urban contexts, and discuss how our findings can be explored in sanitation policy and programme design.
Highlights
IntroductionA means of isolating human waste, has been recognised as an indispensable element of disease prevention and primary health care programmes (e.g. the Declaration of Alma-Ata, 1978)
Safe sanitation, a means of isolating human waste, has been recognised as an indispensable element of disease prevention and primary health care programmes
We worked with a sample of 1,035 households in 39 poor urban neighbourhoods, 764 households in 17 peripheral rural villages of Gwalior city, Madhya Pradesh and 869 households in 46 GPs (GPs constitute the smallest administrative unit in India) in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu
Summary
A means of isolating human waste, has been recognised as an indispensable element of disease prevention and primary health care programmes (e.g. the Declaration of Alma-Ata, 1978). With an estimated 1.3 billion people lacking basic sanitation, the scale of the problem is huge (Mara & Evans ). An under-acknowledged contributor to investments is households themselves: based on survey responses by 35 national governments in 2018/2019, households contribute an estimated 66% of US$52 billion of annual WASH expenditures (WHO ) These figures have triggered calls for a stronger emphasis on research that enables a better understanding of household investment in WASH (Danert & Hutton ). Novotný et al ( ) highlight that research aimed at understanding how contextual factors and Downloaded from http://iwaponline.com/washdev/article-pdf/10/4/628/828866/washdev0100628.pdf by guest
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
