The medium term schooling and health effects of low birth weight: Evidence from siblings

Research has shown that low birth weight is linked to infant mortality as well as longer term outcomes. This paper examines the medium term outcomes that may link low birth weight to adult disadvantage using a national longitudinal sample with a large sample of siblings (Add Health). Results show strong effects on several educational outcomes, including early grade repetition, receipt of special education services, and reports of a learning disability. Results for longer term outcomes are suggestive, though less robust and small in magnitude. Overall, the results suggest that medium term educational disadvantages associated with low birth weight are not driven by family level unobservables and do not accumulate into large long-term disadvantage.

Research highlights▶ National data suggests short term reductions in education and health outcomes from low birth weight. ▶ These effects seem to fade out as children age into adulthood. ▶ These relationships are robust to controls for family background through sibling comparisons.