DOES THE WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN PROGRAM IMPROVE INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES?

C-Tier
Journal: Economic Inquiry
Year: 2020
Volume: 58
Issue: 4
Pages: 1731-1756

Score contribution per author:

0.335 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We reevaluate the causal impacts of prenatal participation in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program on birth outcomes by simultaneously accounting for self‐selection into WIC and systematic underreporting of program participation. Combining survey data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study‐Birth Cohort with administrative data from the USDA, we extend partial identification methods to reflect institutional details of the WIC program and validate WIC program participation for a mixture of positive and negative responses. Our preferred estimates imply that WIC increases the prevalence of normal birth weight by at least 4.8% and normal gestation duration by at least 3.7%. (JEL C14, C21, I12, I31, I38)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:ecinqu:v:58:y:2020:i:4:p:1731-1756
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25