Birth weight and adult earnings: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Lambiris, M. J.
- Blakstad, M. M.
- Perumal, N.
- Danaei, G.
- Bliznashka, L.
- Fink, G.
- Sudfeld, C. R.
DOIAbstract
While substantial evidence has identified low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) as a risk factor for early life morbidity, mortality and poor childhood development, relatively little is known on the links between birth weight and economic outcomes in adulthood. The objective of this study was to systematically review the economics (EconLit) and biomedical literature (Medline) and estimate the pooled association between birth weight and adult earnings. A total of 15 studies from mostly high-income countries were included. On average, each standard deviation increase in birth weight was associated with a 2.75% increase in annual earnings [(95% CI: 1.44 to 4.07); 9 estimates]. A negative, but not statistically significant, association was found betw...
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