title: What doesn't kill you makes you poorer: Adult wages and early-life mortality in India.
abstract: A growing literature indicates that effects of early-life health on adult economic outcomes could be substantial in developing countries, but the magnitude of this effect is debated. We document a robust gradient between the early-life mortality environment to which men in India were locally exposed in their district and year of birth and the wages that they earn as adults. A 1 percentage point reduction in infant mortality (or 10 point reduction in IMR) in an infant's district and year of birth is associated with an approximately 2 percent increase in his subsequent adult wages. Consistent with theories and evidence in the literature, we find that the level of schooling chosen for a child does not mediate this association. Because of its consequences for subsequent wages, early-life health could also have considerable fiscal externalities; if so, public health investments could come at very low net present cost.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University (Aix-Marseille School of Economics), CNRS & EHESS, Centre de la Vieille Charité, 2 rue de la Charité, 13002 Marseille, France. Electronic address: nicholas.lawson@univ-amu.fr.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India. Electronic address: dean@riceinstitute.org.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spears
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disease environment; Early-life health; India; Infant mortality; Wages