Is there defensive behavior to prevent diseases such as diarrhea in Jakarta? Yes. And evidence suggests that individual defensive behavior is influenced by exposure to contamination and income and education - as expected. So, given the opportunity and knowledge, individuals try to modify the...

In this report, the authors develop and estimate a model of household defensive behavior and illness. Using cross-section data from a household survey in Jakarta, they observe defensive behavior (washing hands after using the toilet) consistent with expectations: defensive effort intensifies...