Political Stressors and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

Ezra Golberstein (), Daniel Guth () and David Slusky ()
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Ezra Golberstein: University of Minnesota
Daniel Guth: University of Rochester
David Slusky: University of Kansas

No 18386, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: We study political shocks as potential birth outcomes stressors, specifically the unexpected result of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. We investigate this two-sided shock using an innovative data linkage: Colorado voter registrations and birth certificates, matched by sex, birth year, and name. Contrary to our hypotheses, we do not find an effect on birth outcomes. We do find some evidence that stress-related behaviors in pregnancy worsened for Democrats. This research adds new evidence on the effects of in-utero exposure to two-sided stressors, uses a novel data linkage, and expands the new economics area of politics as a determinant of health.

Keywords: elections; birth weight; fetal origins; maternal stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 I14 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-03
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