Austerity Measures and Infant Health. Lessons from an Unexpected Wage Cut Policy

Simona Bejenariu () and Andreea Mitrut
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Simona Bejenariu: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University, Postal: P.O. Box 640, SE 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Simona Tudor

No 574, Working Papers in Economics from University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: We investigate the effects on health at birth of a shock generated by a major (25%) and unexpected wage cut austerity measure that affected all public sector employees in Romania in 2010. Our findings suggest an overall improvement in health at birth for boys exposed to the shock in early gestation and a decreased sex ratio at birth among early exposed children. These findings are consistent with the selection in utero theory hypothesizing that maternal exposure to a significant shock early in gestation preponderantly selects against frail male fetuses, with healthier survivors being carried to term.

Keywords: austerity measures; fetal shock; health at birth; selection in utero; Romania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I19 I38 J13 J38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 56 pages
Date: 2013-10-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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http://hdl.handle.net/2077/34176 (text/html)

Related works:
Working Paper: Austerity Measures and Infant Health. Lessons from an Unexpected Wage Cut Policy (2013)
Working Paper: Austerity Measures and Infant Health. Lessons from an Unexpected Wage Cut Policy (2013)
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