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Life course consequences of low birth weight: Evidence from Japan

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  • Matsushima, Midori
  • Shimizutani, Satoshi
  • Yamada, Hiroyuki

Abstract

This study provides the first evidence on a variety of life course outcomes of birth weight in Japan by employing new datasets covering the middle and older generations. We have several interesting observations. First, low birth weight is significantly associated with adverse outcomes in early life including school performance and self-rated health. Second, no negative effect of low birth weight is found on educational attainment or primary job status. Third, health outcomes due to low birth weight at older ages are not negatively affected except for difficulty in mobility and higher risk of diagnosis with hypertension or diabetes. Overall, our findings suggest that the negative effect of lower birth weight seems to fade out over the life course.

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  • Matsushima, Midori & Shimizutani, Satoshi & Yamada, Hiroyuki, 2018. "Life course consequences of low birth weight: Evidence from Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 37-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:50:y:2018:i:c:p:37-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2018.07.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mary Reader, 2021. "The birthweight effects of universal child benefits in pregnancy: quasi-experimental evidence from England and Wales," CASE Papers /222, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    3. Yuda, Michio, 2020. "Childhood health and future outcomes: Evidence from panel surveys for the Japanese population," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    4. Luis Miguel Dos Santos, 2020. "The Relationship between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Nursing Students’ Sense of Belonging: The Experiences and Nursing Education Management of Pre-Service Nursing Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-18, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Birth weight; Long-term outcome; JSTAR; Japan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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