Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/232712 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 13960
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Skills are an important predictor of labour, education, and wellbeing outcomes. Understanding the origins of skills formation is important for reducing future inequalities. This paper analyses the effect of shocks in-utero on human capital outcomes in childhood and adolescence in India. Combining historical rainfall data and longitudinal data from Young Lives, we estimate the effect of rainfall shocks in-utero on cognitive and non-cognitive skills development over the first 15 years of life. We find negative effects of rainfall shocks on receptive vocabulary at age 5, and on mathematics and non-cognitive skills at age 15. Also, shocks occurred after the first trimester are more detrimental for skills development. Our findings support the implementation of policies aiming at reducing inequalities at very early stages in life.
Subjects: 
skills formation
in-utero
rainfall shocks
India
JEL: 
J24
I14
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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