SMU SOE Seminar (Mar 7, 2019): Nutrition, Health, and Human Capital Development: Evidence from South Korea, 1946-1977

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TOPIC:

NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM SOUTH KOREA, 1946-1977

ABSTRACT Using newly collected archival data, this study investigated how nutritional availability in two crucial periods for human growth, namely, early childhood and adolescence, affected the heights of South Korean conscripts born from 1946–1957. Results strongly suggest nutrition was an important determining factor of biological standards of living indicated by adult height. Provisions of calories and protein were associated strongly with larger stature. Food availability during early childhood was more critical for human growth than nutrition in adolescence. Nutrition in growing ages also had a strong effect on educational attainment. Increased nutritional supply in adolescence mitigated the negative consequences of early-life exposure to the Korean War. Improved nutrition in early childhood and adolescence accounted for 30% to 50% of the increase in adult height (about 2 cm) that was gained between the 1951 and 1957 birth cohorts. Increased nutritional availability during early childhood explains the majority of the contribution. Keywords: Nutritional availability, Early childhood, Adolescence, Height, Education JEL codes: I15, I31, N35, N55 Click here to view the paper. Click here to view the CV.
		PRESENTER Chulhee Lee Seoul National University
		RESEARCH FIELDS Economic History Labor and Demographic Economics Health Economics
		DATE: 7 March 2019 (Thursday)
		TIME: 4pm - 5.30pm
		VENUE: Meeting Room 5.1, Level 5 School of Economics Singapore Management University 90 Stamford Road Singapore 178903

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