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Germs in the Family: The Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Intra-Household Disease Spread

Author

Listed:
  • Daysal, N. Meltem

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Ding, Hui

    (affiliation not available)

  • Rossin-Slater, Maya

    (Stanford University)

  • Schwandt, Hannes

    (Northwestern University)

Abstract

Preschool-aged children get sick frequently and spread disease to other family members. Despite the universality of this experience, there is limited causal evidence on the magnitudes and consequences of these externalities, especially for infant siblings with developing immune systems and brains. We use Danish administrative data to document that, before age one, younger siblings have 2-3 times higher hospitalization rates for respiratory conditions than older siblings. We combine birth order and within-municipality variation in respiratory disease prevalence among young children, and find lasting differential impacts of early-life respiratory disease exposure on younger siblings’ earnings, educational attainment, chronic respiratory health and mental health-related outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Daysal, N. Meltem & Ding, Hui & Rossin-Slater, Maya & Schwandt, Hannes, 2025. "Germs in the Family: The Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Intra-Household Disease Spread," IZA Discussion Papers 18078, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18078
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Brown, Caitlin & Ravallion, Martin & van de Walle, Dominique, 2023. "Child health and the housing environment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    2. Eriksen, Tine L. Mundbjerg & Gaulke, Amanda P. & Skipper, Niels & Svensson, Jannet & Thingholm, Peter, 2023. "Educational consequences of a sibling's disability: Evidence from type 1 diabetes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Gerard J. van den Berg & Stephanie von Hinke & Nicolai Vitt, 2023. "Early life exposure to measles and later-life outcomes: Evidence from the introduction of a vaccine," Papers 2301.10558, arXiv.org.
    4. Reynolds, Nicholas, 2025. "Stunted Adolescence: The Anomalous Growth Pattern of Americans Born After Mid-Century," IZA Discussion Papers 18046, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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