Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP9443
Authors: Sandra Black; Aline Btikofer; Paul J. Devereux; Kjell G. Salvanes
Abstract: Research increasingly shows that differences in endowments at birth need not be genetic but instead are influenced by environmental factors while the fetus is in the womb. In addition, these differences may persist well beyond childhood. In this paper, we study one such environmental factor ? exposure to radiation?that affects individuals across the socio-economic spectrum. We use variation in radioactive exposure throughout Norway in the 1950s and early 60s, resulting from the abundance of nuclear weapon testing during that time period, to examine the effect of nuclear exposure in utero on outcomes such as IQ scores, education, earnings, and adult height. At this time, there was very little awareness in Norway about nuclear testing so our estimates are likely to be unaffected by avoidance behavior or stress effects. We find that exposure to nuclear radiation, even in low doses, leads to a decline in IQ scores of men aged 18. Moreover, radiation exposure leads to declines in education attainment, high school completion, and earnings among men and women. These results are robust to the choice of specification and the inclusion of sibling fixed effects.
Keywords: fetal origins; pollution; health
JEL Codes: I1; J1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| prenatal radiation exposure (J13) | decline in IQ scores (J11) |
| prenatal radiation exposure (J13) | decline in educational attainment (I21) |
| prenatal radiation exposure (J13) | decline in high school completion rates (I21) |
| prenatal radiation exposure (J13) | adverse effects on earnings at age 35 (J17) |