RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Long-Run Effects of Cesarean Sections
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0719-10334R1
DO 10.3368/jhr.58.2.0719-10334R1
A1 Costa-Ramón, Ana
A1 Kortelainen, Mika
A1 Rodríguez-González, Ana
A1 Sääksvuori, Lauri
YR 2020
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2020/10/14/jhr.58.2.0719-10334R1.abstract
AB This paper analyzes the long-term effects of potentially avoidable cesarean sections on children’s health. Using Finnish administrative data, we document that physicians perform more unplanned C-sections during their regular working hours on days that precede a weekend or public holiday and use this exogenous variation as an instrument for C-sections. We supplement our instrumental variables results with a differences-in-differences estimation strategy that exploits variation in birth mode within sibling pairs and across families. Our results suggest that avoidable unplanned C-sections increase the risk of asthma, but do not affect other immune-mediated disorders previously associated with C-sections.