The Review of Economics and Statistics Vol. 104 No. 6 2022

Infant Health, Cognitive Performance, and Earnings: Evidence from Inception of the Welfare State in Sweden

Sonia Bhalotra¹; Martin Karlsson²; Thérèse Nilsson³; Nina Schwarz⁴

¹ University of Warwick · ² CINCH, University of Duisburg-Essen · ³ Lund University and Research Institute of Industrial Economics · ⁴ University of Duisburg-Essen

Abstract

We identify earnings impacts of exposure to an infant health intervention in Sweden, using individual-linked administrative data to trace potential mechanisms. Leveraging quasi-random variation in eligibility, we estimate that exposure was associated with higher test scores in primary school for boys and girls. However, only girls were more likely to score in the top quintile. Subsequent gains, in secondary schooling, employment, and earnings, are restricted to girls. We show that the differential gains for women accrued from both skills and opportunities.

DOI

10.1162/rest_a_01031

Volume

104

Issue

6

Pages

1138-1156

Language

en

Sources

openalex crossref