2011-08-012024-05-16https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/667856Abstract: This paper uses the sudden and unexpected 1918 influenza pandemic as a natural experiment to test whether conditions in early life (in utero) affect long run developmental outcomes. By combining several historical and current Taiwanese datasets, we found that exposure to influenza while in utero indeed has a profound adverse effect on outcomes in later life. The result is consistent with the fetal origin hypothesis.1918 influenzaFetal origin hypothesisHeight and weightEducation,Disease and mortality