RACIAL AND ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN BIRTH-WEIGHT - THE ROLE OF INCOME AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

This paper attempts to explain the differences in birthweight observed between blacks, white Anglos, Chicanos, and other racial and ethnic g roups. The analysis focuses on the role of income and financial assist ance from relatives and public programs. Using data from the NLS Youth Panel, I construct a causal model of birthweight containing exogenous social and demographic risk factors and intervening proximate determi nants of birthweight. A substantial part of the gap in birthweight bet ween white Anglos and other ethnic groups (especially blacks) can be e xplained by the unfavorable socioeconomic and demographic characterist ics of the latter. On the other hand, blacks and other minorities smok e less and have other favorable proximate characteristics that depress differences in birthweight. When these proximate determinants are con trolled, large ethic differences in birthweight remain unexplained by income and other sociodemographic factors.