Children of Drought: Rainfall Shocks and Early Child Health in Rural India

摘要: Barker’s fetal origins hypothesis suggests a strong relationship between in utero conditions, health and overall child development after birth. Using nationally representative population survey, this paper analyzes the impact of rainfall on early rural India. We find that drought experienced has detrimental effects nutritional status children. Effects appear to be stronger for boys, low caste children, children exposed first trimester. Results are robust alternative definitions drought. Our estimates speculate policies aimed at reducing vulnerability negative shock may result into improved higher human capital accumulation rain-dependent agrarian countries.