Malaria Eradication and Economic Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Uganda

Jeremy Barofsky, University of Southern California
Tobenna D. Anekwe, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Claire Chase, World Bank Group
Farshad Farzadfar, Harvard University

This study evaluates the economic consequences of a 1959-1960 malaria eradication campaign in southwestern Uganda. The effort constitutes a rare attempt to eliminate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and produced an immediate and large disease reduction. We utilize this quasi-experimental health shock to explore changes in educational and economic outcomes. Our analysis shows that eradication produced improvements in years of schooling, literacy, and primary-school completion with suggestive increases in socioeconomic status. Given that sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of the world's current malaria burden, these results provide the best guidance available on the potential long-term economic impact of malaria eradication.