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Instrumental Variable Estimation of the Causal Effect of Hunger Early in Life on Health Later in Life

Author

Listed:
  • Gerard J. van den Berg
  • Pia R. Pinger
  • Johannes Schoch
Abstract
We estimate average causal effects of early-life hunger on late-life health by applying instrumental variable estimation, using data with self-reported periods of hunger earlier in life, with famines as instruments. The data contain samples from European countries and include birth cohorts exposed to various famines in the 20th century. We use two-sample IV estimation to deal with imperfect recollection of conditions at very early stages of life. The estimated average causal effects may exceed famine effects by at least a factor three.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerard J. van den Berg & Pia R. Pinger & Johannes Schoch, 2014. "Instrumental Variable Estimation of the Causal Effect of Hunger Early in Life on Health Later in Life," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 710, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp710
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nutrition; famine; ageing; developmental origins; height; two-sample IV;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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