title: The impact of immigration on child health: experimental evidence from a migration lottery program.
abstract: This paper uses a unique survey designed by the authors to compare migrant children who enter New Zealand through a random ballot with children in the home country of Tonga whose families were unsuccessful participants in the same ballots. We find that migration increases height and reduces stunting of infants and toddlers, but also increases BMI and obesity among 3- to 5-yr-olds. These impacts are quite large even though the average migrant household has been in New Zealand for less than 1 yr. Additional results suggest that these impacts occur because of dietary change rather than direct income effects.
authors.affiliation: Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stillman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McKenzie
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D002657:Child Development; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000208:ethnology; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history