Multigenerational Effects of Smallpox Vaccination

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lazuka, Volha, Jensen, Peter Sandholt
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866908838402195456
author Lazuka, Volha
Jensen, Peter Sandholt
author_facet Lazuka, Volha
Jensen, Peter Sandholt
contents Using Swedish register data spanning 250 years, we estimate multigenerational effects of smallpox vaccination on longevity and occupational achievements. Employing mother fixed-effects, difference-in-differences, and shift-share instrumental-variables designs, we find vaccination improves outcomes for three generations. We explore mechanisms through which benefits transmit across generations, finding evidence consistent with both improved health behaviors and epigenetic inheritance. Effects persist even in milder disease environments, demonstrating vaccination lasting benefits beyond epidemic contexts. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for multigenerational returns when evaluating early-life health interventions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_21580
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Multigenerational Effects of Smallpox Vaccination
Lazuka, Volha
Jensen, Peter Sandholt
General Economics
Economics
Using Swedish register data spanning 250 years, we estimate multigenerational effects of smallpox vaccination on longevity and occupational achievements. Employing mother fixed-effects, difference-in-differences, and shift-share instrumental-variables designs, we find vaccination improves outcomes for three generations. We explore mechanisms through which benefits transmit across generations, finding evidence consistent with both improved health behaviors and epigenetic inheritance. Effects persist even in milder disease environments, demonstrating vaccination lasting benefits beyond epidemic contexts. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for multigenerational returns when evaluating early-life health interventions.
title Multigenerational Effects of Smallpox Vaccination
topic General Economics
Economics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.21580