Publication: Economic Impacts of Inadequate Sanitation in Bangladesh
Date
2012-01
ISSN
Published
2012-01
Author(s)
DeFrancis, Marc P.
Abstract
This study estimates the nonmonetary,
financial, and economic costs of poor sanitation in the
areas of health, drinking water, and domestic water, as well
as user preference and welfare. Financial costs refer to the
direct financial expense paid in monetary terms by someone,
such as changes in household and government spending and
real income losses for households. Nonmonetary costs consist
of both longer-term financial impacts (such as less educated
children, fewer children, and loss of working people due to
premature death or relevant morbidity), and nonfinancial
implications, such as the value of loss of life, time-use of
adults and children, and intangible impacts. Bangladesh has
made inadequate progress toward the sanitation-related
millennium development goal (MDG) target. The country's
financial commitment and political priority for sanitation
also has shown inadequate progress (Water-Aid, 2008).
Therefore, to mitigate the adverse effects of poor
sanitation and hygiene practices, intervention is necessary.
The aim of this study is to provide concrete evidence of the
impact poor sanitation has on the population and the
environment and, consequently, on the economy. This study
provides estimates of the current and long-term effects of
poor sanitation, which cover not only the negative impacts
of poor sanitation but also the potential gains that
different sanitation interventions could achieve. Policy
makers and water and sanitation advocacy organizations are
the target audience of this study.
Citation
“DeFrancis, Marc P.. 2012. Economic Impacts of Inadequate Sanitation in Bangladesh. Water and Sanitation Program;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17349 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”