Date of Award
Spring 4-6-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Partha Deb
Second Advisor
Monica Deza
Academic Program Adviser
Karna Basu
Abstract
This paper estimates the effects of prenatal exposure to maternal Ramadan fasting on the development of non-cognitive skills. To study this relationship, I employ a general structural equation model (GSEM) on a sample of Muslims from the fifth wave of the Indonesian Life and Family Survey (IFLS). The results of this study find that in utero exposure to Ramadan is associated with lower levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness, and higher levels of neuroticism. The impacts I find on agreeableness and conscientiousness are driven by third trimester exposure and the sub-sample of women. The impacts on neuroticism are driven by exposure in the first and second trimesters and the sub-sample of men.
Recommended Citation
Kell-Fien, Timothy M., "In Utero Nutritional Shocks and Non-Cognitive Skills: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting in Indonesia" (2020). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/699