Table 5

Validity Checks

Birth WeightAsthma at Age 5 for Sample
Thursdays vs. FridaysExcluding Inductions
Bivariate probit0.0230.036***
(0.015)(0.010)
Mean of Y0.0400.039
Observations117,826246,933
Differences-in-differences−5.4160.017**
(7.617)(0.007)
Mean of Y3,566.1170.044
Observations645,134440,291
  • Notes: Column 1 shows a placebo regression where the outcome is birth weight. Columns 2 and 3 gives the results from the bivariate probit (top) and the differences-in-differences (bottom) estimation of the impact of unplanned C-section on the probability of asthma diagnosis by age five restricting the sample to births taking place on Thursdays or Fridays (Column 2) or to noninduced births (Column 3). Specifications are as detailed in Sections III.B.1 and III.B.2, with the full set of fixed effects and controls. Robust standard errors (in parentheses) for bivariate probit results, and standard errors clustered at the family level in the differences-in-differences panel. Significance: *p < 0.10, **p < 0.05, ***p < 0.01.