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Long-Term Health Benefits of Occupational Licensing: Evidence from Midwifery Laws

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  • Noghanibehambari, Hamid
  • Fletcher, Jason

Abstract

During the late 19th and early 20th century, several states mandated midwifery licensing requirements to improve midwives’ knowledge, education, and quality. Previous studies point to the health benefits of midwifery quality improvements for maternal and infant health outcomes. This paper exploits the staggered adoption of midwifery laws across states using event-study and difference-in-difference frameworks. We use the universe of death records in the US over the years 1979-2020 and find that exposure to a midwifery licensing law at birth is associated with a 2.5 percent reduction in cumulative mortality rates and an increase of 0.6 months in longevity during adulthood and old age. The effects are concentrated on deaths due to infectious diseases, neoplasm diseases, and suicide mortality. We also show that the impacts are confined among blacks and are slightly larger among males. Additional analyses using alternative data sources suggest small but significant increases in educational attainments, income, measures of socioeconomic status, employment, and measures of height as potential mechanism channels. We provide a discussion on the economic magnitude and policy implication of the results.

Suggested Citation

  • Noghanibehambari, Hamid & Fletcher, Jason, 2023. "Long-Term Health Benefits of Occupational Licensing: Evidence from Midwifery Laws," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:92:y:2023:i:c:s016762962300084x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102807
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health; Mortality; Longevity; Occupational Licensing; Midwifery; Historical Data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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