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The Lasting Impact of Mothers' Fetal Malnutrition on Their Offspring: Evidence from the China Great Leap Forward Famine

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  • Kim, Seonghoon

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Quheng, Deng

    (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

  • Fleisher, Belton M.

    (Ohio State University)

  • Li, Shi

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

We find that second-generation effects of in utero and early childhood malnutrition on the school participation of the offspring of mothers who experienced the China Great Leap Forward Famine. The direct impact on entrance to senior high school is also negative, but smaller in magnitude than that on entrance to junior high school. Given that entering senior high school is contingent on completion of junior high school, the direct impact on entrance to senior high school obviously understates the total impact on the second generation’s accumulation of human capital. Our estimation results are generally robust to IV estimation.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Seonghoon & Quheng, Deng & Fleisher, Belton M. & Li, Shi, 2010. "The Lasting Impact of Mothers' Fetal Malnutrition on Their Offspring: Evidence from the China Great Leap Forward Famine," IZA Discussion Papers 5194, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5194
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dimico, Arcangelo, 2014. "Poverty trap and educational shock: Evidence from missionary fields," QUCEH Working Paper Series 14-07, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Barker hypothesis; schooling; health; malnutrition; China Famine;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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