MONTH OF BIRTH, SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND HEIGHT IN RURAL CHINESE MEN

: This study examines the effects of birth month and socioeconomic factors on height in rural Chinese men. The analysis of sample data of 833 adult men, 18-52 years of age, collected from 600 families in rural Hebei in 2005, shows that adult men born in winter months (November to January) are, on average, 1.04 cm shorter (p<0.01) than those born during the rest of the year. In addition to the conventional OLS regression models, the household fixed and random effects models also indicate that the month-of-birth effect exists when socioeconomic variables are controlled for. The birth-month effect on height is, however, smaller than effects of socioeconomic variables, including the household registration status, household economy and father's class status.