Economics & Finance / Economic Theory / Development Economics

Happiness on Tap: How Piped Water Transformed Lives in Urban Morocco

In this video, we dive into a groundbreaking study from Tangiers, Morocco, that reveals a surprising truth: piped water doesn't just improve health—it boosts happiness. Based on a randomized controlled trial, we explore how a simple nudge—offering credit and simplifying paperwork—led to a 69% adoption rate of household water connections, slashing water-fetching time from 7.2 hours per week to zero. The real kicker? No health improvements were found, but families reported massive gains in well-being, social harmony, and leisure time. Discover how this research challenges conventional wisdom on infrastructure investment and what it means for urban development worldwide.