Effects of early life weather conditions on later life attitudes and outcomes

Presenter: Joseph Gomes, ISER

Author: Joseph Gomes

Co-author(s): Sonia Bhalotra

We study the impacts of climate variation in utero and soon after-birth on risk-preferences, subjective wellbeing, education and income in adulthood. The outcome data are drawn from the UK Understanding Society survey which includes approximately 45000 adults born in the UK. We match county of birth for these individuals to (geocoded) weather station level data from the Met Office to generate an estimation sample in which births span about 90 years across all UK counties. Initial results indicate small effects of higher temperatures and rainfall in the second trimester of pregnancy on subjective wellbeing and physical health in later life. Investigation of potential mechanisms and other outcomes is in progress.