When It Rains It Pours: The Long-run Economic Impacts of Salt Iodization in the United States
Achyuta Adhvaryu, Steven Bednar, Anant Nyshadham, Teresa Molina, Quynh Nguyen
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Working Paper No. 24847 Issued in July 2018
- All previous fortificaion studies (Iodine, Folic, Vitamin D, Iron, etc.) seemed to have focused only on improved health.
- This study, which seems pretty good, looks at the economic benefits of fortification
- Vitamin D, like Iodine fortification, might also result in increased income due to:
- Improved cognition ( as with Iodine)
- Reduced sick leave
- Improved productivity
- Reduced time/loss-of-job due to care for senior parents with disabilities
- More people getting salaries instead of being on disability
See also Vitamin D Life
- Vitamin D and Iodine are similar, and both are deficient and important to health
- Note: Switzerland puts Iodine in all salt (US only puts Iodine in table salt)
- All items in category Iodine
24 items - All items in category Fortification and Vitamin D
111 items - Typically takes a century for govts to fortify food with nutrients (like vitamin D) has the following chart
 Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
NBER Program(s):Children, Development of the American Economy, Labor Studies
In 1924, The Morton Salt Company began nationwide distribution of iodine-fortified salt. Access to iodine, a key determinant of cognitive ability, rose sharply. We compare outcomes for cohorts exposed in utero with those of slightly older, unexposed cohorts, across states with high versus low baseline iodine deficiency. Income increased by 11%; labor force participation rose 0.68 percentage points; and full-time work went up 0.9 percentage points due to increased iodine availability. These impacts were largely driven by changes in the economic outcomes of young women. In later adulthood, both men and women had higher family incomes due to iodization.Adding Iodine to salt added 11 percent to goiter states income (how much might vitamin D add) – July 20181675 visitors, last modified 29 Aug, 2018, This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category) - All items in category Fortification and Vitamin D