Explaining Stunting in Nineteenth Century France

The Economic History Review, Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 315-334, May 2010

Posted: 30 Apr 2010

See all articles by Gilles Postel-Vinay

Gilles Postel-Vinay

Ecole Normale Superieure (INRA-ENS)

David E. Sahn

Cornell University

Date Written: May 1, 2010

Abstract

We examine the share of French men with stunted growth during the nineteenth century using data on potential conscripts into the army. The share of stunted men (height below 1.62 meters) in France’s 82 departments declines dramatically across the century, especially in the south and in the west. Our models examine the role of education expenditures, health care personnel, local wages, asset distribution, as well as a dummy variable for Paris as determinants of stunting, and decompose changes over time into the effects of levels and returns to covariates. All covariates are strongly significant, with education spending being particularly important. Living in congested Paris contributed to poor health status.

Suggested Citation

Postel-Vinay, Gilles and Sahn, David E., Explaining Stunting in Nineteenth Century France (May 1, 2010). The Economic History Review, Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 315-334, May 2010 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1597384

Gilles Postel-Vinay

Ecole Normale Superieure (INRA-ENS) ( email )

48 boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
France
33 1 4313 6361 (Phone)
33 1 4313 6362 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.inra.fr/Internet/Departements/ESR/UR/lea/equipe/postelg/

David E. Sahn (Contact Author)

Cornell University ( email )

B16 MVR Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
United States
607-255-8931 (Phone)
607-255-0178 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/des16

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
380
PlumX Metrics