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Intergenerational Transmission of Health at Birth from Mothers and Fathers

Author

Listed:
  • Osea Giuntella

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Giulia La Mattina

    (University of South Florida)

  • Climent Quintana-Domeque

    (University of Exeter)

Abstract

We use a unique data set of linked birth records from Florida to analyze the intergenerational transmission of health at birth by parental gender. We show that both paternal and maternal birth weights significantly predict the child's birth weight even after accounting for all genetic and environmental factors that are common and time-invariant within a family. Our estimates reveal that a one standard deviation increase in mother's birth weight (535 grams) translates into a 0.13-0.23 standard deviations increase in child's birth weight (70-123 grams), accounting or not for maternal grandmother fixed effects. On the father's side, we find that a one standard deviation increase in father's birth weight (563 grams) translates into a 0.10-0.14 standard deviations increase in child's birth weight (51-73 grams), accounting or not for maternal grandmother fixed effects. The significant role of both maternal and paternal health at birth in explaining offspring health at birth is confirmed when using alternative metrics: intrauterine growth restriction, being small for gestational age, or being too heavy (i.e., macrosomic).

Suggested Citation

  • Osea Giuntella & Giulia La Mattina & Climent Quintana-Domeque, 2019. "Intergenerational Transmission of Health at Birth from Mothers and Fathers," Working Papers 2019-010, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2019-010
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Halliday, Timothy & Mazumder, Bhashkar & Wong, Ashley, 2021. "Intergenerational mobility in self-reported health status in the US," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intergenerational transmission; health capital; birth outcomes; gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General

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