Full Citation

Title: Childhood Health & Education

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2012

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Abstract: This paper explores the latent effect of childhood health on educational attainment for a moderate ever-present shock risk. I estimate the effect of increased influenza epidemics during childhood on educational outcomes later in life. Influenza is a severe annual health threat to children, and virulence varies greatly across states and time. I use elderly influenza deaths as a proxy for exposure, as children experience most of the morbidity, while the elderly (=65 years) are most likely to experience mortality. Outbreaks in influenza likely to affect children can be measured through elderly influenza mortality. I combine the Multiple Cause of Death (MCOD) files and the US Census. I find that overall influenza reduces lifetime education and health. Individuals are 0.12%1.70% less likely to report higher levels of educational attainment due to influenza. However, this glosses over the dichotomy in the timing of exposure, where immunity acquisition in children too young to attend school serves to increase their educational attainment. These gains are then outweighed by influenza later in childhood. Children exposed to influenza during the latter portion of primary school (3rd to 6th grade) have an average 0.24%4.67% drop in educational attainment.

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Authors: Noble, Nolan

Publisher: University of Notre Dame

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Health

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