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Title: Iodized Salt and U.S. Development

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2009

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Abstract: This study evaluates the effects of the introduction of iodized salt in the United States in1924. Using U.S. census data and the geographic distribution of goiter, the most visiblemanifestation of iodine deficiency, I find that areas with higher prior goiter rates experiencedgreater improvements in schooling among children, greater occupational gains among adults andbetter long-term economic outcomes. Exposure to iodized salt of the adults and children in theshort-term study is entirely postnatal; therefore the results make a novel contribution to theexisting economics literature on iodine deficiency which has focused solely on in utero treatmentimpacts. In general, the results emphasize the important role of micronutrients for economicdevelopment, and highlight the cost-effectiveness of treatment programs that tend to the mostbasic elements of health, thereby generating sustainable human capital gains. The extremely lowcost of iodization and the relative ease of its implementation are particularly relevant fordeveloping countries which face extremely tight budget constraints.

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Authors: Nguyen, Quynh T.

Publisher: University of Maryland

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Other, Poverty and Welfare

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