The transmission of health across 7 generations in China, 1789-1906

Jean-François Maystadt and Giuseppe Migali

No 147116320, Working Papers from Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department

Abstract: We study the intergenerational transmission of health using linked registered data from China between 1789 and 1906. We first document the intergenerational correlations across 7 generations. We then identify intergenerational causal associations comparing children born from twin mothers or fathers. In particular, we find a strong and persistent intergenerational elasticity between mothers and children of about 0.52. The intergenerational association from fathers is much weaker and seems to be largely driven by genetic factors. The estimates remain relatively stable up to generation 5 and are robust to different checks. Overall, our results highlight the nurturing role of women in explaining the intergenerational transmission of health, stressing the key role played by women in affecting children's health outcomes in developing countries.

Keywords: Intergenerational correlations; causal effects; long-term health outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I14 I29 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-cna, nep-hea and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The transmission of health across 7 generations in China, 1789–1906 (2021)
Working Paper: The transmission of health across 7 generations in China, 1789-1906 (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lan:wpaper:147116320

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