Birth order, parental health investment, and health in childhood

We analyze the relationship between birth order, parental health investment and children's using administrative data from Austria. show that later-born children have better endowments at birth. They are less likely born preterm or with a low weight, hospitalized for perinatal conditions. also find significant order differences in early childhood. Later-born to participate preventive medical screenings their vaccine uptake rates lower. Our analysis indicates these investments not driven by endowments. Thus, we do evidence compensatory behavior of parents. discuss alternative explanations, such as role resource constraints. Furthermore, show, initial inequalities extend into middle status school checks, they consume medication often hospitalized.