The Long Road to Health: Healthcare Utilization Impacts of a Road Pavement Policy in Rural India

Despite demand-stimulation efforts, coverage rates of many essential health services remain low in developing countries, suggesting that there may be binding supply constraints, such as poor access. This paper utilizes quasi-random variations in roadpavement intensity to study the impact of improved access on adoption of reproductive health services. I find that road construction led to higher rates of institutional antenatal-care and deliveries, which translated into better medical care and vaccination coverage. Most gains accrue from repeat visits by existing patients, and some from new entrants into the formal health sector. Evidence suggests that beneficiaries travel farther to see better providers.