Export booms and child health: Pathways of income, nutrition, and maternal care in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of export expansion on child health across 22 sub-Saharan African countries, using a natural experiment tied to a U.S. trade policy change. While theoretical models suggest links between trade and health, empirical studies focusing on micro-level impacts are scarce. Utilizing individual health data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and a cohort-level Difference-in-Differences methodology, the study reveals that the policy significantly reduced child wasting and underweight, with no observed effect on child illness. The analysis highlights that increased maternal income—boosted by greater employment opportunities and reduced asset poverty—played a crucial role. We observe higher rates of antenatal care and increased protein-rich food consumption among children. However, results show that oil-exporting countries did not experience similar benefits. These findings emphasize the importance of sectoral context in understanding the impact of export expansions and offer valuable insights for crafting policies to maximize societal welfare.