Universal Investment in Infants and Long-Run Health: Evidence from Denmark's 1937 Home Visiting Program

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hjort, Jonas; Solvsten, Mikkel; Wust, Miriam
• 署名单位: Columbia University; University of California System; University of California Berkeley
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20150087
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 78-104
• 关键词: randomized controlled-trial; human-capital development; malaria eradication; developing-countries; Adult outcomes; childhood; disease; mortality; education; exposure

摘要

This paper examines the long-run health effects of a universal infant health intervention, the 1937 Danish home visiting program, which targeted all infants. Using administrative population data and exploiting variation in the timing of implementation across municipalities, we find that treated individuals enjoy higher age-specific survival rates during middle age (45-64), experience fewer hospital nights, and are less likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. These results suggest that an improved nutrition and disease environment in infancy programmed individuals for lower predisposition to serious adult diseases.