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Alcohol Exposure In Utero and Child Academic Achievement

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  • Stephanie Hinke Kessler Scholder
  • George L. Wehby
  • Sarah Lewis
  • Luisa Zuccolo
Abstract
We examine the effect of alcohol exposure in utero on child academic achievement. As well as studying the effect of any alcohol exposure, we investigate the effect of the dose, pattern, and duration of exposure. We use a genetic variant in the maternal alcohol-metabolism gene ADH1B as an instrument for alcohol exposure, whilst controlling for the child's genotype on the same variant. We show that the instrument is unrelated to an extensive range of maternal and paternal characteristics and behaviours. OLS regressions suggest an ambiguous association between alcohol exposure in utero and children's academic attainment, but there is a strong social gradient in maternal drinking, with mothers in higher socio-economic groups more likely to drink. In stark contrast to the OLS, the IV estimates show negative effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on child educational attainment. These results are very robust to an extensive set of model specifications. In addition, we show that that the effects are solely driven by the maternal genotype, with no impact of the child's genotype.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie Hinke Kessler Scholder & George L. Wehby & Sarah Lewis & Luisa Zuccolo, 2014. "Alcohol Exposure In Utero and Child Academic Achievement," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 0(576), pages 634-667, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:econjl:v::y:2014:i:576:p:634-667
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ecoj.2014.124.issue-576
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    13. Grönqvist, Erik & Norén, Anna & Sjögren, Anna & Svaleryd, Helena, 2017. "Auditing mothers: The effect of targeted alcohol prevention on infant Health and maternal behavior," Working Paper Series 2017:19, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
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    15. von Hinke, Stephanie & Davey Smith, George & Lawlor, Debbie A. & Propper, Carol & Windmeijer, Frank, 2016. "Genetic markers as instrumental variables," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 131-148.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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