Iron Deficiency and Schooling Attainment in Peru
- (pp. 222-55)
Abstract
Do nutritional deficiencies contribute to the intergenerational persistence of poverty by reducing the earnings potential of future generations? To address this question, we made available supplemental iron pills at a health center in rural Peru and encouraged adolescents to take them via media messages. School administrative data provide novel evidence that reducing iron deficiency results in a large and significant improvement in school performance and aspirations for anemic students. Our findings demonstrate that combining low-cost outreach efforts and local supplementation programs can be an affordable and effective method of reducing rates of adolescent iron deficiency anemia.Citation
Chong, Alberto, Isabelle Cohen, Erica Field, Eduardo Nakasone, and Maximo Torero. 2016. "Iron Deficiency and Schooling Attainment in Peru." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 8 (4): 222-55. DOI: 10.1257/app.20140494Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I21 Analysis of Education
- I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions
- I26 Returns to Education
- J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
- J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
- Q51 Valuation of Environmental Effects
- Q53 Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
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