Iodine Deficiency and Schooling Attainment in Tanzania

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Field, Erica; Robles, Omar; Torero, Maximo
• 署名单位: Harvard University; CGIAR; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.1.4.140
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 140-169
• 关键词: oral iodized oil; endemic cretinism; brain; fetal; metabolism; goitrogens; prevention; pregnancy; CHILDREN; origins

摘要

Cognitive damage from iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) has important implications for economic growth through its effect on human capital. To gauge the magnitude of this influence, we evaluate the impact on schooling of reductions in IDD from intensive iodine supplementation in Tanzania. Our findings suggest a large effect of in utero iodine on cognition and human capital: treated children attain an estimated 0.35-0.56 years of additional schooling relative to siblings and older and younger peers. Furthermore, the effect appears to be substantially larger for girls, consistent with laboratory evidence indicating greater cognitive sensitivity of female fetuses to maternal thyroid deprivation. (JEL I12, I21, J16, O15)