Chi Man Cheung

Fellowship: Rocca Dissertation
Fellowship Year: 2025
Project Theme/Title: Three essays on health and environmental economics. The political economy of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ghana
Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest global source of mercury emissions, contributing 38% worldwide and up to 80% in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines how Ghanaian mining communities respond to learning about ASGM’s health risks through a randomized controlled trial in partnership with a local environmental NGO. The intervention delivers a documentary on the health consequences of galamsey, with two key behavioral responses in focus: private defensive actions, measured by shifts toward safer drinking water sources, and collective actions, assessed through revealed preferences such as endorsing customary by-laws and advocacy efforts like reporting to authorities. By randomizing the delivery mode—public screenings versus private at-home viewings—we aim to disentangle the relative importance of two key mechanisms: individual learning and social coordination. Additionally, the study investigates the role of traditional chiefs—key but often overlooked political actors—in shaping community responses to ASGM pollution.