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

Author

Listed:
  • N. Meltem Daysal

    (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Hui Ding

    (School of Economics, Fudan University)

  • Maya Rossin-Slater

    (Department of Health Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Hannes Schwandt

    (School of Education and Social Policy, 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

  • N. Meltem Daysal & Hui Ding & Maya Rossin-Slater & Hannes Schwandt, 2025. "Germs in the Family: The Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Intra-Household Disease Spread," CEBI working paper series 25-10, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kucebi:2510
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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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    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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