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Winter Babies' Real Problem? Less-Educated Mothers

Accidental find shines light on old conundrum

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 22, 2009 8:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – For years, economists have been trying to explain why winter babies have it so tough. In study after study, those born in winter consistently perform worse in school, earn less, and are less healthy than peers born at other times of year. Now Notre Dame economists Kasey Buckles and Daniel Hungerman have found, by accident, surprising statistical evidence that children born in winter tended to have less educated mothers, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Buckles and Hungerman studied 52 million births US births, and the pattern held true. “We were so stunned, we wondered if we made some mistake,” says Hungerman. “We weren’t even excited, we were like, ‘Is that right?’” The find debunks the longstanding assumption that winter babies came from similar backgrounds as others, and diminishes the importance some much-revered older research.

Babies born in winter tend not to go as far in school.
Babies born in winter tend not to go as far in school.   (Shutterstock)
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I love the paper. It means you have to think about things more than you want to think. - Daniel Hamermesh, economist at the University of Texas

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
spacematic
Sep 23, 2009 6:58 AM CDT
Economists are NOT scientists, nor is the field of economics a science. Some of the most trusted economists in this country told us the exact opposite of what has occurred in the past 24 months, and they're certainly off the mark with this sensationalist B.S.
yellowjeep
Sep 23, 2009 6:48 AM CDT
I was surprised when I read this in WSJ today. It was a very strange article.
BlueAyez
Sep 22, 2009 7:42 AM CDT
My kids were born in summer and winter. This study is flawed. The winter one has the higher IQ.

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