For decades, the people of Bangladesh have obtained their drinking water from wells contaminated with arsenic. Countless studies have demonstrated the negative health impacts of the contamination on the citizens, and the effects on the economy. Yale economist Mark Rosenzweig conducted a study to determine the smaller scale impacts on productivity and individual success. The findings of this study revealed several cognitive consequences of prolonged exposure to the contaminated drinking water.
It was found that arsenic poisoning was detrimental to job placement and success in business across the board. Reducing arsenic levels in the water would lead to 24% more men working in high-skilled labor positions and 26% more becoming entrepreneurs. Beyond that, women would have access to clean water sources closer to home, reducing the labor required of them. Discovering more specific consequences of the contaminated water was a priority for Rosenzweig, who said “Getting the true productivity effect has previously been neglected in the literature, so the key thing here was to get at the causal impact of arsenic.” The study was essential in identifying the effects of arsenic specifically, as it is sometimes difficult to distinguish from other diseases common in Bangladesh.
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