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The Role of Neonatal Health in the Incidence of Childhood Disability

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  • Todd Elder
  • David N. Figlio
  • Scott A. Imberman
  • Claudia Persico

Abstract

We use linked birth and education records for all children born in Florida between 1992 and 2002 to assess the effects of neonatal health on the identification of childhood disabilities. We find that several measures of neonatal health are associated with disability incidence, although birthweight plays the most empirically relevant role. Using large samples of siblings and twins, we find that infant health influences multiple measures of disability and grade repetition in school. The association between birthweight and disability holds throughout the distribution of birthweight and across a range of socioeconomic characteristics, including maternal education and race.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd Elder & David N. Figlio & Scott A. Imberman & Claudia Persico, 2019. "The Role of Neonatal Health in the Incidence of Childhood Disability," NBER Working Papers 25828, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25828
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sandra E. Black & Paul J. Devereux & Kjell G. Salvanes, 2007. "From the Cradle to the Labor Market? The Effect of Birth Weight on Adult Outcomes," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(1), pages 409-439.
    2. Elder, Todd E., 2010. "The importance of relative standards in ADHD diagnoses: Evidence based on exact birth dates," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 641-656, September.
    3. David Autor & David Figlio & Krzysztof Karbownik & Jeffrey Roth & Melanie Wasserman, 2019. "Family Disadvantage and the Gender Gap in Behavioral and Educational Outcomes," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 338-381, July.
    4. Jere R. Behrman & Mark R. Rosenzweig, 2004. "Returns to Birthweight," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 86(2), pages 586-601, May.
    5. Douglas Almond & Bhashkar Mazumder, 2011. "Health Capital and the Prenatal Environment: The Effect of Ramadan Observance during Pregnancy," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(4), pages 56-85, October.
    6. Pinka Chatterji & Dohyung Kim & Kajal Lahiri, 2014. "Birth Weight And Academic Achievement In Childhood," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(9), pages 1013-1035, September.
    7. Todd E. Elder & Darren H. Lubotsky, 2009. "Kindergarten Entrance Age and Children’s Achievement: Impacts of State Policies, Family Background, and Peers," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(3).
    8. Evans, William N. & Morrill, Melinda S. & Parente, Stephen T., 2010. "Measuring inappropriate medical diagnosis and treatment in survey data: The case of ADHD among school-age children," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 657-673, September.
    9. repec:ucn:wpaper:10197/317 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Janet Currie & Bahadir Dursun & Michael Hatch & Erdal Tekin, 2023. "The Hidden Cost of Firearm Violence on Infants in Utero," NBER Working Papers 31774, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Dara Lee Luca & Purvi Sevak, "undated". "Examining the Consequences of Poor Neonatal Health on the Family," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 979c287754a74eeebb3ddaf33, Mathematica Policy Research.
    3. Khoa Vu & Maria C. Lo Bue, 2019. "Intergenerational mobility of education in Vietnam: Evidence from the Vietnam War," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-67, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Diane Alexander & Hannes Schwandt, 2022. "The Impact of Car Pollution on Infant and Child Health: Evidence from Emissions Cheating," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(6), pages 2872-2910.
    5. Cavit Baran & Janet Currie & Bahadir Dursun & Erdal Tekin, 2025. "Clean Rides, Healthy Lives: The Impact of Electric Vehicle Adoption on Air Quality and Infant Health," NBER Working Papers 34278, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Alessandro Palma & Inna Petrunyk & Daniela Vuri, 2019. "Air Pollution During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in Italy," CEIS Research Paper 464, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 03 Sep 2019.
    7. Alessandro Palma & Inna Petrunyk & Daniela Vuri, 2022. "Prenatal air pollution exposure and neonatal health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(5), pages 729-759, May.
    8. Todd E. Elder & David N. Figlio & Scott A. Imberman & Claudia L. Persico, 2021. "School Segregation and Racial Gaps in Special Education Identification," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 39(S1), pages 151-197.
    9. Briana Ballis, 2024. "Early Life Health Conditions and Racial Gaps in Education," Working Papers 2024-016, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    10. Paola Biasi & Gabriella Conti & De Paola Maria, 2025. "The geography of child disability in Italy: new evidence from administrative data," IFS Working Papers W25/44, Institute for Fiscal Studies.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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