Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/248612 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
ISER Discussion Paper No. 1153
Publisher: 
Osaka University, Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), Osaka
Abstract: 
We examine the effects of local labor market conditions during early pregnancy on birth and later outcomes. Using a longitudinal survey of newborns in Japan, we find that improvements in employment opportunities increase the probability of low birth weight, attributable to shortened gestation. This negative effect is mainly driven by the impact of economic shocks on the female labor market. However, we do not find a lasting effect of economic shocks during early pregnancy on severe health conditions or developmental delays in early childhood. Using prefecture-level panel data, we confirm that improvements in female employment opportunities are significantly negatively associated with infant birth weight, but not with the fertility and infant mortality rate.
Subjects: 
labor market conditions
newborn health
low birth weight
recession
JEL: 
I10
J13
J16
J23
R11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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