Killing Me Softly: The Fetal Origins Hypothesis

Douglas Almond1, Janet Currie1

  • 1Douglas Almond is Associate Professor of Economics and International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York City, New York. This paper was written while he was on leave at the Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Janet Currie is Sami Mnaymneh Professor of Economics, Columbia University, New York City, New York. Almond is a Research Associate and Currie is Director of the Program on Children, both at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Journal of Economic Perspectives : a Journal of the American Economic Association
|August 26, 2014
PubMed
Summary

The fetal origins hypothesis suggests early life conditions, like in-utero nutrition, impact adult health and economic outcomes. This theory, supported by economic research, shows significant long-term effects on individuals.

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