Maternal Influence on Birth Outcomes and Intergenerational Advantage

Sadegh Eshaghnia and James Heckman

Journal of Human Capital, 2024, vol. 18, issue 1, 1 - 43

Abstract: We analyze the role of maternal endowments and investments in delivering small for gestational age babies. We estimate the effect of maternal endowments on birth outcomes and decompose it into a direct, “biological” effect and a “choice” effect mediated by maternal behaviors. We estimate the causal effects of maternal education and prenatal smoking and whether women with different traits have different returns. The findings highlight the importance of maternal cognition, personality traits, and physical fitness in influencing birth outcomes, with significant heterogeneity in the effects of education and smoking across different maternal physical traits, suggesting targeted prenatal interventions for less healthy women.

Date: 2024
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