Full Citation

Title: Why is Infant Mortality Higher in the US than in Europe?

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2014

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.3386/w20525

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PMID:

Abstract: The US has higher infant mortality than peer countries. In this paper, we combine micro-data from the US with similar data from four European countries to investigate this US infant mortality disadvantage. The US disadvantage persists after adjusting for potential differential reporting of births near the threshold of viability. While the importance of birth weight varies across comparison countries, relative to all comparison countries the US has similar neonatal (<1 month) mortality but higher postneonatal (1-12 months) mortality. We document similar patterns across Census divisions within the US. The postneonatal mortality disadvantage is driven by poor birth outcomes among lower socioeconomic status individuals.

Url: http://www.nber.org/papers/w20525.pdf

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Authors: Chen, Alice; Oster, Emily; Williams, Heidi

Series Title: NBER Working Paper Series

Publication Number: 20525

Institution: National Bureau of Economic Research

Pages:

Publisher Location: Cambridge, MA

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Fertility and Mortality, Other

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