Booms, Busts, and Babies' Health
研究发现，在失业率高的时期受孕的婴儿，低出生体重、先天畸形和新生儿后期死亡率更低，这既源于母亲群体的选择效应，也源于衰退期间健康行为的改善。
We study the relationship between the unemployment rate at the time of a baby's conception and parental characteristics, parental behaviors, and babies' health. Babies conceived in times of high unemployment have a reduced incidence of low and very low birth weight, fewer congenital malformations, and lower postneonatal mortality. These health improvements are attributable both to selection (changes in the type of mothers who conceive during recessions) and to improvements in health behavior during recessions. Black mothers tend to be higher socioeconomic status (as measured by education and marital status) in times of high unemployment, whereas White mothers are less educated.