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The effects of prenatal exposure to temperature extremes on birth outcomes: the case of China

Author

Listed:
  • Xi Chen

    (Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health
    Yale University)

  • Chih Ming Tan

    (University of North Dakota)

  • Xiaobo Zhang

    (Peking University
    International Food Policy Research Institute)

  • Xin Zhang

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of prenatal exposure to extreme temperatures on birth outcomes—specifically, the log of birth weight and an indicator for low birth weight—using a nationally representative dataset on rural China. During the time period we examine (1991–2000), indoor air conditioning was not widely available and migration was limited, allowing us to address identification issues endemic in the climate change literature related to adaptation and location sorting. We find substantial heterogeneity in the effects of extreme temperature exposure on birth outcomes. In particular, prenatal exposure to heat waves has stronger negative effects than exposure to cold spells on surviving births.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Chen & Chih Ming Tan & Xiaobo Zhang & Xin Zhang, 2020. "The effects of prenatal exposure to temperature extremes on birth outcomes: the case of China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 1263-1302, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:33:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s00148-020-00768-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-020-00768-4
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    3. Wu, Wenjie & Zhe, Yang & Kim, Jun Hyung & Yue, Ai, 2023. "Effects of Early Childhood Climate on Cognitive Development and Home Environment," IZA Discussion Papers 16017, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Doyle, Mary-Alice, 2023. "Seasonal patterns in newborns’ health: quantifying the roles of climate, communicable disease, economic and social factors," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119971, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Sarah Syed & Tracey L. O’Sullivan & Karen P. Phillips, 2022. "Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review of the Epidemiological Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    6. Marc Helbling & Daniel Meierrieks, 2023. "Global warming and urbanization," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1187-1223, July.
    7. Gulcan Cil & Jiyoon Kim, 2022. "Extreme temperatures during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from 2009 to 2018 U.S. national birth data," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(9), pages 1993-2024, September.
    8. Olukorede Abiona & Joseph B. Ajefu, 2023. "The impact of timing of in utero drought shocks on birth outcomes in rural households: evidence from Sierra Leone," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1333-1362, July.
    9. Xiaoying Liu & Jere R. Behrman & Emily Hannum & Fan Wang & Qingguo Zhao, 2022. "Same environment, stratified impacts? Air pollution, extreme temperatures, and birth weight in south China," Papers 2204.00219, arXiv.org.
    10. Tamás Hajdu & Gábor Hajdu, 2022. "Temperature, climate change, and human conception rates: evidence from Hungary," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(4), pages 1751-1776, October.
    11. Tamás Hajdu & Gábor Hajdu, 2020. "Temperature, climate change and birth weight: Evidence from Hungary," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2032, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    12. Sumonkanti Das & Syed Abul Basher & Bernard Baffour & Penny Godwin & Alice Richardson & Salim Rashid, 2024. "Improved estimates of child malnutrition trends in Bangladesh using remote-sensed data," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(4), pages 1-37, December.
    13. Li, Lyuxiu & Zhang, Xin, 2024. "The causal impact of fetal exposure to PM2.5 on birth outcomes: Evidence from rural China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    14. Helbling, Marc & Meierrieks, Daniel, 2022. "Global warming and urbanization," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Latest Ar, pages 1-1.
    15. Gokben Aydilek & Deniz Karaoğlan, 2024. "The effect of prenatal exposure to Ramadan on human capital: evidence from Turkey," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(3), pages 1-35, September.
    16. Wang, Linfeng & Shi, Tie & Chen, Hanyi, 2023. "Air pollution and infant mortality: Evidence from China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    17. Doyle, Mary-Alice, 2023. "Seasonal patterns in newborns’ health: Quantifying the roles of climate, communicable disease, economic and social factors," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    18. Yue Hua & Yun Qiu & Xiaoqing Tan, 2023. "The effects of temperature on mental health: evidence from China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1293-1332, July.
    19. Liu, Xiaoying & Miao, Huazhang & Behrman, Jere R. & Hannum, Emily & Liang, Zhijiang & Zhao, Qingguo, 2022. "The Asian Games, air pollution and birth outcomes in South China: An instrumental variable approach," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    20. Youhong Lin & Feng Liu & Peng Xu, 2021. "Effects of drought on infant mortality in China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 248-269, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Climate change; Cold weather; Heat waves; Birth weight; Low birth weight; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects

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