Income effect of prenatal sunlight exposure: Empirical evidence from China

Abstract

Despite a growing interest in the impacts of prenatal factors on adulthood quality of life, economists have not estimated the income effects of sunlight exposures by mothers during pregnancy. This paper estimates such effects using data from China General Social Survey and China National Meteorological Data Service Center. The results show that the income effects of prenatal sunlight exposure in the second trimester are significantly positive. The effects differ for individuals born in different months and the effects are larger for female employees, older employees, those born in rural areas, in the pre‐reform period, or whose mothers are less‐educated. Finally, we investigate the possible mechanisms via the human capital pathway, discovering that fetuses with longer sunlight exposure in the second trimester are healthier and do more exercises in adulthood. It is suggested that families, communities, policymakers should pay attention to prenatal sunlight exposure, especially for pregnant women in the developing world who are less educated or live in rural areas.