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Can pandemics affect educational attainment? Evidence from the polio epidemic of 1916

Author

Listed:
  • Keith Meyers

    (Department of Business and Economics, Danish Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense, Denmark)

  • Melissa A. Thomasson

    (Julian Lange Professor of Economics, Miami University and Research Associate, NBER. FSB 2054, MSC 1035 800 E. High St., Oxford, OH, 45056, USA)

Abstract

We leverage the largest polio outbreak in US history, the 1916 polio epidemic, to study how epidemic-related school interruptions affect educational attainment. Using polio morbidity as a proxy for epidemic exposure, we find that children aged 10 and under, and school-aged children of legal working age with greater exposure to the epidemic experienced reduced educational attainment compared to their slightly older peers. These reductions in observed educational attainment persist even after accounting for the influenza epidemic of 1918.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith Meyers & Melissa A. Thomasson, 2021. "Can pandemics affect educational attainment? Evidence from the polio epidemic of 1916," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 15(2), pages 231-265, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:afc:cliome:v:15:y:2021:i:2:p:231-265
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-020-00212-3
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Shinsuke Asakawa & Fumio Ohtake, 2021. "Impact of Temporary School Closure Due to COVID-19 on the Academic Achievement of Elementary School Students," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 21-14, Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics.
    2. Oikawa, Masato & Tanaka, Ryuichi & Bessho, Shun-ichiro & Kawamura, Akira & Noguchi, Haruko, 2022. "Do Class Closures Affect Students' Achievements? Heterogeneous Effects of Students' Socioeconomic Backgrounds," IZA Discussion Papers 15751, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Beniamino Callegari & Christophe Feder, 2022. "A Literature Review of Pandemics and Development: the Long-Term Perspective," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 183-212, March.
    4. Barteska, Philipp & Dobkowitz, Sonja & Olkkola, Maarit & Rieser, Michael, 2023. "Mass vaccination and educational attainment: Evidence from the 1967–68 Measles Eradication Campaign," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. Kamila Cygan-Rehm, 2022. "Lifetime Consequences of Lost Instructional Time in the Classroom: Evidence from Shortened School Years," CESifo Working Paper Series 9892, CESifo.
    6. Beniamino Callegari & Christophe Feder, 2022. "The long-term economic effects of pandemics: toward an evolutionary approach [Epidemics and trust: the case of the Spanish flu]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 31(3), pages 715-735.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Epidemics · Polio · Schooling disruption · Educational attainment;

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • N22 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy

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