The long-term effects of early-life shocks over the life course.

The aim of this project is to understand how early-life shocks shape late-life preferences and behaviour. The specific shock I consider is the Second World War (WWII) as an adverse life event and its long-term impacts on late-life outcomes. Up to now, the main known channels between early life and late life are biological changes in health and cognition. However, shocks might also change preferences and behaviors, which then in turn might cause changes in health and labor market outcomes. I propose to analyze in a first strand of research whether such shocks, in particular the experience of hunger after WWII, affect late-life preferences. In a second strand of research, I want to shed more light on shocks and how they impact decisions taken on the marriage market. If shocks lead to lower success on the marriage markets, then negative impacts on physical and mental health might be enhanced.

Keywords:early-life, Life course, Early-life shocks, Long-term effects

Disciplines:Applied economics, Economic history, Macroeconomics and monetary economics, Microeconomics, Tourism