Accounting for Fetal Origins: Health Capital vs. Health Deficits

18 Pages Posted: 6 Jul 2017

See all articles by Carl‐Johan Dalgaard

Carl‐Johan Dalgaard

University of Copenhagen - Department of Economics

Casper Worm Hansen

University of Copenhagen - Department of Economics; University of Copenhagen

Holger Strulik

University of Goettingen (Göttingen) - School of Law, Economics, Social Sciences

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 3, 2017

Abstract

The Fetal Origins hypothesis has received considerable empirical support, both within epidemiology and economics. The present study compares the ability of two rival theoretical frameworks in accounting for the kind of path dependence implied by the Fetal Origins Hypothesis. We argue that while the health capital model due to Grossman (Journal of Political Economy, 80(2), 223-255, 1972) is irreconcilable with Fetal Origins of late-in-life health outcomes, the more recent health deficit model due to Dalgaard and Strulik (Journal of the European Economic Association, 12(3), 672-701, 2014) can generate shock amplification consistent with the hypothesis.

Keywords: Fetal Origins; Health Capital; Health Deficits

JEL Classification: I10, D91

Suggested Citation

Dalgaard, Carl-Johan Lars and Hansen, Casper Worm and Hansen, Casper Worm and Strulik, Holger, Accounting for Fetal Origins: Health Capital vs. Health Deficits (July 3, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2996592 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2996592

Carl-Johan Lars Dalgaard (Contact Author)

University of Copenhagen - Department of Economics ( email )

Øster Farimagsgade 5
Bygning 26
1353 Copenhagen K.
Denmark
+45 3532 4407 (Phone)

Casper Worm Hansen

University of Copenhagen - Department of Economics ( email )

Øster Farimagsgade 5
Copenhagen K, DK 1153
Denmark

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, København DK-1165
Denmark

Holger Strulik

University of Goettingen (Göttingen) - School of Law, Economics, Social Sciences ( email )

Germany

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