Who weans with commodity price shocks? Rice prices and breastfeeding in the Philippines

Arbeitspapier

Commodity market fluctuations have been linked with a number of adult outcomes. Recent evidence on the lasting impact of early life conditions, however, suggests that the effects on children may be important as well. Using large spatio-temporal variations in rice prices in the Philippines as a natural experiment, the study estimates the effect of increasing food prices on parental behavior regarding an inexpensive yet time-intensive child investment: breastmilk feeding. It documents a countercyclical relationship between breastfeeding duration and rice prices, which may be a consequence of poorer health and induced labor force participation among mothers. Results highlight that even food producers may not be insulated against food price inflation.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: PIDS Discussion Paper Series ; No. 2016-28

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Commodity Markets
• Subject: Food prices ; Breastfeeding ; Child investments

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Abrigo, Michael R.M.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)
• (where): Quezon City
• (when): 2016

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/173549
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET