AbstractsSociology

Sanitation as a measure of development| A rationale for its use, with global and subnational analyses of its factors

by Catherine J Harthorn




Institution: Arkansas State University
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Environmental studies; Political science
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2134177
Full text PDF: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10139113


Abstract

Sanitation is an ideal non-monetary measure of broadly distributed development. Compared to other global development indicators, it reduces volatility, resolves equivalency, achieves closer concept fidelity, and features greater data availability. Factors affecting rates of sanitation in cross-national comparisons include democracy (with less influence in the developing world), fewer restrictions to political freedoms or civil liberties, better governance, communism, greater wealth, less poverty, urbanization, population density, and slower population growth. Factors affecting change in sanitation rates include microfinance activity. Subnational factors which influence rates of sanitation in India are wealth and communism. The factors affecting the change in sanitation in India include wealth, economic growth, higher taxes, and less corruption. The benefits of higher rates of sanitation include longer life and reduced mortality rates for infants and children.