Under the Weather: Health, Schooling, and Economic Consequences of Early-Life Rainfall

TLDR

The study investigates how early‑life rainfall influences health, schooling, and socioeconomic outcomes of Indonesian adults. The authors match historical rainfall data by birth year and location to adult outcomes from the 2000 Indonesia Family Life Survey. Women exposed to 20 % higher early‑life rainfall are taller by 0.57 cm, attain 0.22 more schooling grades, and live in households with 0.12 SD higher asset scores, while men show no such effects, indicating schooling mediates the socioeconomic gains. JEL codes: I12, I21, J16, O15.

Abstract

We examine the effect of early-life rainfall on the health, education, and socioeconomic outcomes of Indonesian adults. We link historical rainfall for each individual's birth year and birth location with adult outcomes from the 2000 Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS). Higher early-life rainfall has large positive effects on the adult outcomes of women, but not of men. Women with 20 percent higher rainfall (relative to the local norm) are 0.57 centimeters taller, complete 0.22 more schooling grades, and live in households scoring 0.12 standard deviations higher on an asset index. Schooling attainment appears to mediate the impact on adult women's socioeconomic status. (JEL I12, I21, J16, O15)