印尼棕櫚油生產與幼童健康之關聯

Abstract

棕櫚油產業迅速擴張對土地利用有舉足輕重的影響，尤其是在全球最大的棕櫚油生產國，印尼。然而，擴張的廣泛影響，特別是對幼童健康的影響的深入探討較少，因此，本研究旨在探討印尼棕櫚油擴張與五歲以下兒童的身長遲滯盛行率之間的關係。為了處理潛在的內生性問題，本研究採用農業氣候適應性和中國的棕櫚油進口量當作油棕擴張面積的工具變數。研究結果顯示，油棕面積每增加一千公頃，五歲以下兒童的身高遲滯率約上升0.16個百分點，並且在貧困水準較高的區域所受影響更為明顯。本研究發現突顯油棕擴張的非預期健康後果，特別是在經濟脆弱的地區，著重於制定區域平衡的土地利用政策的必要性，並同時考慮經濟和健康結果。

The rapid expansion of the oil palm industry has led to significant changes in land use, particularly in Indonesia, world’s largest producers of palm oil. However, the broader consequences of this expansion, especially its impact on child health, remain underexplored. This study examines the relationship between oil palm expansion and the prevalence of stunting among children under five in Indonesia. To address potential endogeneity, I use agro-climatic suitability and China’s palm oil import volume as instruments for oil palm area expansion. I find that an expansion in oil palm area of a thousand of hectare is associated with an increase in stunting rates of approximately 0.16 percentage-point, with a more pronounced effect in districts with higher poverty levels. These findings highlight the unintended health consequences of palm oil expansion, particularly in economically vulnerable regions, and underscore the need for balanced land-use policies that consider both economic and health outcomes.