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Exploring the Racial Gap in Infant Mortality Rates, 1920-1970

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Author Info
William J. Collins () (Department of Economics, Vanderbilt University, NBER)
Melissa A. Thomasson (NBER)

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Abstract

This paper examines the racial gap in infant mortality rates from 1920 to 1970. Using state-level panel data with information on income, urbanization, women's education, and physicians per capita, we can account for a large portion of the racial gap in infant mortality rates between 1920 and 1945, but a smaller portion thereafter. We then re-examine the post-war period in light of trends in birth weight, maternal characteristics, smoking, air pollution, breast-feeding, insurance, and hospital births.

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File URL: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Econ/wparchive/workpaper/vu02-w01.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: First version, 2002
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Department of Economics, Vanderbilt University in its series Working Papers with number 0201.

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Date of creation: Feb 2002
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Handle: RePEc:van:wpaper:0201

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Related research
Keywords: infant mortality health race

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Production
J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities and Races; Non-labor Discrimination
N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Income, and Wealth - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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    Other versions:
  7. Thomasson, Melissa A., 2002. "From Sickness to Health: The Twentieth-Century Development of U.S. Health Insurance," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 233-253, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
  11. David M. Cutler & Edward L. Glaeser & Jacob L. Vigdor, 1999. "The Rise and Decline of the American Ghetto," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(3), pages 455-506, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  12. Pritchett, Lant & Summers, Lawrence H., 1993. "Wealthier is healthier," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1150, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
  13. Linda N. Edwards & Michael Grossman, 1980. "The Relationship Between Children's Health and Intellectual Development," NBER Working Papers 0213, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
  15. Dana Goldman & Darius Lakdawalla, 2001. "Understanding Health Disparities Across Education Groups," NBER Working Papers 8328, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  16. Subbarao, K & Raney, Laura, 1995. "Social Gains from Female Education: A Cross-National Study," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 44(1), pages 105-28, October.
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    Other versions:
  20. Kenneth Y. Chay & Michael Greenstone, 1999. "The Impact of Air Pollution on Infant Mortality: Evidence from Geographic Variation in Pollution Shocks Induced by a Recession," NBER Working Papers 7442, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  21. Smith, James P, 1984. "Race and Human Capital," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 74(4), pages 685-98, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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