IN UTERO RAMADAN EXPOSURE AND CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Almond, Douglas; Mazumder, Bhashkar; van Ewijk, Reyn
• 署名单位: Columbia University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Federal Reserve System - USA; Federal Reserve Bank - Chicago; University of Amsterdam
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/ecoj.12168
• 发表日期: 2015
• 页码: 1501-1533
• 关键词: socioeconomic-status; pregnancy; mothers; HEALTH; achievement; childhood; QUALITY

摘要

A large literature has linked the in utero environment to health in adulthood. We consider how prenatal nutrition may shape human capital acquisition in childhood, utilising the month-long Ramadan fast as a natural experiment. In student register data for Pakistani and Bangladeshi families in England, we examine whether Ramadan's overlap with pregnancy affects subsequent academic outcomes at age 7. We find that test scores are 0.05-0.08 standard deviations lower for students exposed to Ramadan in early pregnancy. Our results suggest that brief prenatal investments may be more cost effective than traditional educational interventions in improving academic performance.