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The Height Production Function from Birth to Early Adulthood

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Abstract

In this paper I specify a height production function in order to study the determinants of height from birth to early adulthood in the Philippines. I use a rich longitudinal data set on Filipino children born in 1983 and followed for more than 20 years. The structure of the production function allows height to be the result of the accumulation of inputs over time. The results show that inputs from conception to birth are relevant at each age of the children. Nutrition inputs have a positive but small effect on the child’s height. The shorter the distance between the age when the nutrition input is applied and the age when height is measured, the higher the impact on height. The younger the child, the bigger the impact. The earlier disease inputs are experienced, the stronger their negative effect on height. The older the child, the stronger the effects of past diseases.

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  • Elisabetta De Cao, 2010. "The Height Production Function from Birth to Early Adulthood," CEIS Research Paper 165, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 28 May 2010.
    • Handle: RePEc:rtv:ceisrp:165
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    2. Jean-Pascal Bassino & Marion Dovis & John Komlos, 2015. "Biological Well-Being in Late 19th Century Philippines," NBER Working Papers 21410, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Griffen, Andrew S., 2016. "Height and calories in early childhood," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 55-69.

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