When It Rains It Pours: The Long-Run Economic Impacts of Salt Iodization in the United States

Achyuta Adhvaryu; Steven Bednar; Teresa Molina; Quynh T. Nguyen; Anant Nyshadham

doi:10.1162/rest_a_00822

When It Rains It Pours: The Long-Run Economic Impacts of Salt Iodization in the United States

Achyuta Adhvaryu¹; Steven Bednar²; Teresa Molina³; Quynh T. Nguyen⁴; Anant Nyshadham⁵

¹ University of Michigan and NBER · ² Elon University · ³ University of Hawaii at Manoa · ⁴ World Bank · ⁵ Boston College and NBER

The Review of Economics and Statistics 2020 open access

In 1924, the Morton Salt Company began nationwide distribution of iodine-fortified salt. Access to iodine, a key determinant of cognitive ability, rose sharply. We compare outcomes for cohorts exposed in utero with those of slightly older, unexposed cohorts, across states with high versus low baseline iodine deficiency. Income increased by 11%, labor force participation rose 0.68 percentage points, and full-time work went up 0.9 percentage points due to increased iodine availability. These impacts were largely driven by changes in the economic outcomes of young women. In later adulthood, both men and women had higher family incomes due to iodization.

DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00822
Volume: 102 (2)
Pages: 395-407
Language: en
Export: BibTeX
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