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Cyclical unemployment and infant health

Author

Listed:
  • Kaplan, Erin K.
  • Collins, Courtney A.
  • Tylavsky, Frances A.

Abstract

This study provides evidence on the effect of cyclical unemployment on infant health. We match individual-level data from a detailed survey of mothers and their children in Memphis, TN, with 5-year average census-tract unemployment rates from the American Community Survey. Our findings indicate that a one percentage point increase in the local unemployment rate is associated with a statistically significant increase in the probability of having a low birthweight baby (a baby weighing less than 2500 grams). We also find evidence of a statistically significant decrease in gestational age. These effects are concentrated among infants born to mothers without a college education and into households earning less than $25,000 a year.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaplan, Erin K. & Collins, Courtney A. & Tylavsky, Frances A., 2017. "Cyclical unemployment and infant health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 27(PA), pages 281-288.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:27:y:2017:i:pa:p:281-288
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2017.08.001
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Janke, Katharina & Lee, Kevin & Propper, Carol & Shields, Kalvinder & Shields, Michael A., 2020. "Macroeconomic Conditions and Health in Britain: Aggregation, Dynamics and Local Area Heterogeneity," IZA Discussion Papers 13091, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Toffolutti, Veronica & Suhrcke, Marc, 2019. "Does austerity really kill?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 211-223.
    3. De Cao, Elisabetta & McCormick, Barry & Nicodemo, Catia, 2022. "Does unemployment worsen babies’ health? A tale of siblings, maternal behaviour, and selection," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Mihaela Onofrei & Anca-Florentina Vatamanu & Georgeta Vintilă & Elena Cigu, 2021. "Government Health Expenditure and Public Health Outcomes: A Comparative Study among EU Developing Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Shen, Menghan, 2018. "The effects of school desegregation on infant health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 104-118.
    6. Aparicio, Ainoa & González, Libertad & Vall Castelló, Judit, 2020. "Newborn health and the business cycle: The role of birth order," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    7. Noghanibehambari, Hamid, 2022. "Intergenerational health effects of Medicaid," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    8. Balsa, Ana I. & Triunfo, Patricia, 2022. "The COVID-19 pandemic and birth outcomes in 2020: The role of prenatal care and other channels," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    9. Alessie, Rob & Angelini, Viola & Mierau, Jochen O. & Viluma, Laura, 2018. "Economic downturns and infant health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 162-171.
    10. Rivero Catalina & Acuna Pedro, 2021. "RETRACTED: Income Shocks and Child Mortality Rates: Evidence from Fluctuations in Oil Prices," Economics, Sciendo, vol. 9(1), pages 69-83, June.
    11. Wang, Yang & Yang, Muzhe, 2019. "Long commutes to work during pregnancy and infant health at birth," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 1-17.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment; Recession; Infant Health; Birthweight;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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