Discussion paper
DP17257 Infant health, cognitive performance and earnings: Evidence from inception of the welfare state in Sweden
We identify earnings impacts of exposure to an infant health intervention in Sweden,
using individual linked administrative data to trace potential mechanisms. Leveraging quasi-random
variation in eligibility, we estimate that exposure was associated with higher test scores
in primary school for boys and girls. However only girls were more likely to score in the top
quintile. Subsequent gains, in secondary schooling, employment, and earnings, are restricted to
girls. We show that the differential gains for women accrued from both skills and opportunities.
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