Conference Paper
Rainfall, Birthweight and Endogenous Pregnancy
No.
ERF32AC_170
Publisher
ERF
Date
May, 2026
Topic
Q5. Environmental Economics
Several studies examine the impact of rainfall on neonatal health; however, few consider the endogenous nature of pregnancy decisions. Mothers engaged in agriculture often plan their pregnancies around the intensity of expected farm labor. Families who delay childbearing due to favorable weather conditions are likely to earn higher incomes, which may contribute to higher birthweights. This study accounts for the endogeneity of pregnancy decisions and corrects for sample selection bias related to the timing of childbirth. Our findings reveal that the effects of rainfall fluctuations on birthweight vary significantly across different climates and agricultural peak seasons. Notably, in Iran, infants appear more vulnerable to downpours than to droughts, possibly due to the country’s reliance on wells and underground water, as well as the labor-intensive nature of traditional farming. These results underscore the importance of considering both climatic conditions and agricultural workload when assessing the environmental determinants of infant health.