Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/26542 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 2497
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
Vitamin D is vital in all vertebrates because it allows them to absorb more calcium from their diets, contributing to stronger skeletal systems and stature growth. Using a new source of 19th century US state prison records, this study contrasts the statures of comparable African-Americans and whites by the primary sources of vitamin D production: time exposed to solar radiation, skin pigmentation, and nativity. Greater insolation (vitamin D production) is documented here to be associated with taller black and white statures, and a considerable share of the stature differential by socioeconomic status was related to insolation.
Subjects: 
Socioeconomic status
vitamin D
insolation
19th century US statures
JEL: 
I10
J01
J15
J16
N81
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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