Impacts of Dengue Epidemics on Household Labor Market Outcomes

Abstract

Existing research on household-level dengue impacts only assesses families of individuals with disease. However, behavioral and economic factors affect all households within an epidemic region. I assess changes in work hours among males and females in Iquitos, Peru, during intermittent dengue epidemics from 2005-2010. Epidemics are associated with large decreases in work hours for men and women who work. Females reduce hours more than males, and reduce hours when no household members report illness. The findings suggest that current government interventions aimed at reducing transmission during epidemics may inadvertently deter labor market activity. This research contributes to the infectious disease literature by separately assessing the impacts of epidemics on males and females in all households in an affected region.

Mosquito‐borne disease and newborn health

“…Two papers, Bhalotra et al. (2019) and Walsh (2019), examine the short term impact of dengue outbreaks on labor market variables. The first uses data from Brazil, while the second uses data from Peru.…”

“…One set of papers focuses on how early life exposure to malaria or influenza affects income and education outcomes later in life (Almond, 2006;Barreca, 2010;Bleakley, 2010;Cutler et al, 2010;Kudamatsu et al, 2012;Lucas, 2010;Shih & Lin, 2018;Venkataramani, 2012). Two papers, Bhalotra et al (2019) and Walsh (2019), examine the short term impact of dengue outbreaks on labor market variables. The first uses data from Brazil, while the second uses data from Peru.…”