The Hidden Cost Of Firearm Violence On Infants In Utero

Janet Currie, Bahadõr Dursun, Michael Hatch and Erdal Tekin
Additional contact information
Janet Currie: Yale University and NBER
Bahadõr Dursun: Newcastle University and IZA
Michael Hatch: American University
Erdal Tekin: American University, IZA, and NBER

No 2487, Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers from Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University

Abstract: We examine the impact of firearm violence on newborn health in the U.S. using two approaches. First, we analyze the "beltway sniper" attacks in 2002, leveraging both temporal and spatial variation to compare birth outcomes of exposed children to those unexposed. Second, we investigate in-utero exposure to mass shootings using national data. We find that exposure to these incidents during pregnancy increases the likelihood of very low-birthweight and very premature birth. These events carry a significant economic burden, with the beltway sniper attacks costing at least $155 million and mass shootings resulting in annual costs exceeding $75 million.

Pages: 78 pages
Date: 2025-11-01
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