Early life adversity, biological adaptation, and human capital: evidence from an interrupted malaria control program in Zambia

Günther Fink, Atheendar S. Venkataramani and Arianna Zanolini

Journal of Health Economics, 2021, vol. 80, issue C

Abstract: Growing evidence from evolutionary biology demonstrates how early life shocks trigger physiological changes designed to be adaptive in challenging environments. We examine the implications of one type of physiological adaptation – immunity formation - for human capital accumulation. Using variation in early life malaria risk generated by an interrupted disease control program in Zambia, we show that exposure to infectious diseases during the first two years of life can reduce the harmful effects of malaria exposure on cognitive development during the preschool years. These findings suggest a non-linear and trajectory-dependent relationship between early life adversity and human capital formation.

Keywords: Human capital; Early childhood; Immunity; Biological responses; Cognition; Education; Malaria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I14 I18 J13 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:80:y:2021:i:c:s016762962100117x

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102532

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