Transitory shocks and birth weights: Evidence from a blackout in Zanzibar

Alfredo Burlando

Journal of Development Economics, 2014, vol. 108, issue C, 154-168

Abstract: Do transitory economic shocks affect neonatal outcomes? I show that an unexpected, month-long blackout in Tanzania caused a sharp but temporary drop in work hours and earnings for workers in electricity-dependent jobs. Using records from a maternity ward, I document a reduction in birth weights for children exposed in utero to the blackout, and an increase in the probability of low birth weight. The reduction is correlated with measures of maternal exposure to the blackout. The blackout also increased fertility for teenage and first-time mothers, but selection into pregnancy cannot fully explain the drop in weights.

Keywords: Africa; Birth weights; Blackouts; Electricity; Fertility; Neonatal health; Transitory income (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 J29 O14 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:deveco:v:108:y:2014:i:c:p:154-168

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2014.01.012

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