Work

Birth weight and school performance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the long-term association between birth weight and school performance in Norway, with a focus on how this relationship has evolved alongside demographic changes. We contribute to the literature by examining this link in a contemporary context using nearly two decades of administrative data. Our findings indicate that higher birth weight is consistently associated with better school performance, particularly in mathematics. This association remains robust across multiple model specifications, including those that account for unobserved family heterogeneity. We also find a slightly stronger association among girls, though the gender interaction is small and not robust in the twin design. Overall, the results underscore birth weight as a stable predictor of academic achievement and highlight its relevance for understanding early-life determinants of human capital development.

Source: Economics & Human Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101542

Authors: Ida Katjivena Pedersen, Bjørn-Atle Reme, Eirin Mølland, Jonas Minet Kinge

Institutions: University of Agder, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, University of Oslo

Language: English

Topic: Birth, Development, and Health

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,290