I’m not sure the economic losers point is a strong one. It seems to model economic opportunities in an area as fixed, such that someone gets pushed down a rung to worse opportunity when someone else (in this case, someone treated by deworming) enters at a higher rung. But elasticities are complex and the kings of economic opportunities available might also be changed by deworming.
I think it would be better to focus on productivity. And it seems likely that the productivity externalities of deworming, if indeed it makes treated individuals more productive, are negligible or slightly positive. I don’t see how it could make untreated individuals less productive, and therefore worse off.
I’m not sure the economic losers point is a strong one. It seems to model economic opportunities in an area as fixed, such that someone gets pushed down a rung to worse opportunity when someone else (in this case, someone treated by deworming) enters at a higher rung. But elasticities are complex and the kings of economic opportunities available might also be changed by deworming.
I think it would be better to focus on productivity. And it seems likely that the productivity externalities of deworming, if indeed it makes treated individuals more productive, are negligible or slightly positive. I don’t see how it could make untreated individuals less productive, and therefore worse off.
Thanks for your comment.
We agree that economic implications are complex, and discuss this in our longer analysis document, where we too focus on productivity.
Some of the comments we have made in response to karthik-t may also be relevant here.