Until the mid 1960s, the UK experienced regular measles epidemics, with the vast majority of children being infected in early childhood. The introduction of a measles vaccine substantially reduced its incidence. The first part of this paper examines the long-term human capital and health effects of this improvement in the early childhood disease environment. The second part investigates interactions between the vaccination campaign and individuals’ human capital and health endowments, shedding light on potential complementarities between public health investments and individual endowments; the latter measured using individuals’ molecular genetic data. We use two identification approaches, studying – respectively – the nationwide introduction of the vaccine in 1968 and local vaccination trials in 1966. Our results show that exposure to the vaccination in early childhood positively affects adult height, but only among those with high genetic endowments for height. We find no effects on years of education; neither a direct effect, nor evidence of complementarities.
Presented by:
Professor Stephanie von Hinke (University of Bristol)
Date & time:
28 Jun 2023 12:30 pm - 28 Jun 2023 13:30 pm
Venue:
2N2.4.16
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