Unemployment could benefit newborns

NEWBORNS are significantly healthier when the unemployment rate is high.

According to a study published as part of the series Working Papers of the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, there could be a positive link between the unemployment rate and babies’ health.

The study poses a very interesting question: “Is it good to be born in bad times?”

It suggests that newborns can be healthier if the unemployed mother has ‘time to take care of herself,’ exercise more, eat more at home and is under less work-related stress.

However, women’s health can be affected if lower income levels result in worse nutrition or higher stress levels, according to a communiqué released by the Fabra Pompeu University (UPF).

The study’s starting hypothesis suggests that a worse economic situation could negatively impact pregnant women’s health, which, in turn, could be harmful to babies.

To calculate the unemployment rate between 1980 and 2010, the researchers used data from Spain’s Working Population Survey.

In addition, they used data taken from birth certificates to create health parameters by year and province: weight at birth, infant mortality and prematurity.

The statistical analysis showed that newborns are healthier when the unemployment rate is higher.

The study found that children born in the midst of economic recession are healthier than those born in economic bonanza, even when comparing children from the same mother.

A possible explanation is that when they are unemployed, women of childbearing age sleep more, drink less alcohol and have a lower body mass index.