Not logged in.

Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Prenatal climate shocks and adult height in developing countries: evidence from Japan (1872–1917)
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Jean-Pascal Bassino
  • Thomas Lagoarde-Segot
  • Ulrich Woitek
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Economics and Human Biology
Publisher Elsevier
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1570-677X
Volume 45
Page Range 101115
Date 2022
Abstract Text This paper contributes to quantifying the biological implications of short-run climatic shocks and economic fluctuations in developing countries. Relying on a unique economic, climatic and anthropometric Japanese data covering the period from 1872 to 1917 (corresponding to the early phase of Japanese industrialization), we estimate the impact of yearly and monthly regional climate anomalies and yearly nationwide business cycle reversals on the average height of Japanese conscripts and its dispersion. Our estimations detect that climate anomalies during gestation and early infancy induced a decrease in average height observed at adulthood, as well as an increase in height dispersion, indicating greater welfare inequalities. These results indicate that pre-Anthropocene climate shocks had irremediable welfare implications for the poorest segments of the population in lower income countries.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1016/j.ehb.2022.101115
Other Identification Number merlin-id:23304
PDF File Download from ZORA
Export BibTeX
EP3 XML (ZORA)
Keywords Economics, econometrics and finance (miscellaneous), climate shocks, human stature, height cycles, Japan