The Short-Run and Long-Run Effects of Birth Weight: Evidence from Large Samples of Siblings and Twins in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we assemble five large administrative data sets in Taiwan to investigate the short-run and long-run effects of birth weight. Comparing with previous studies, our results are more precisely estimated due to the large sample size. Using administrative data sets, the problems arising from self-reported samples are also mitigated. Moreover, we are able to examine both singletons by controlling sibling fixed effects and twins by controlling twin fixed effects. Our results show that an infant's birth weight has positive influence on health and education. Our twin fixed-effects estimates confirm the finding of a long-lasting, but diminishing in the longer run, effects of birth weight. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.