A few good masks: Mask manufacturing and supply networks in Rwanda during the COVID-19 pandemic
Journal of Development Economics · 2026 · Kieran Byrne、Florence Kondylis、John Loeser、Denis Mukama
Abstract
Can trade frictions limit access to improved health technologies? Rwanda encouraged and licensed domestic production of high-quality masks by a few selected textile manufacturers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We exploit spatial variation in exposure to mask manufacturing through pre-licensing textile trade networks within an event-study design using receipt-level transaction data. Local markets less exposed to mask manufacturing had higher mask prices, purchased fewer masks, and experienced faster growth in COVID-19 infections proxied by demand for anti-fever medicine. The dynamics of our results suggest that mask quality, rather than quantity, explains reduced infections caused by manufactured masks.