Explaining Pathways to Basic and In-Home Water Access Across Low and Middle Income Countries

Abstract

Across low and middle income countries, there has been a policy focus on improving household water access since 1990. Despite this focus, however, there is little rigorous empirical evidence showing which economic, political, geographic, social and institutional factors contribute to variation in access across countries. This study tests different hypothesized pathways to both basic and in-home water access over the period 1950-2010. Findings suggest that concerted multilateral efforts since 1990 have diminished the influence of geographic and cultural deterrents to access. Among non-institutional factors, economic productivity shows the most consistent and positive relationship to access, whereas political evidence is mixed.