Universal investment in infants and long-run health: Evidence from Denmark's 1937 home visiting program

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

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.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAmerican Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Vol/bind9
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)78-104
Antal sider27
ISSN1945-7782
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 okt. 2017
Eksternt udgivetJa

ID: 216248105