Determinants of Nutritional Differences in Mediterranean Rural Spain, 1840–1965 Birth Cohorts: A Comparison between Irrigated and Dry Farming Agriculture

Abstract Anthropometric studies have given much attention to the impact of industrialization and urbanization on biological standards living urban populations. Instead, we know less about evolution height disparities within rural world how they changed during modern economic growth process. This article analyzes determining factors that would explain inequality welfare a group populations in Mediterranean Spain. Using database heights military conscripts (N = 146,041) study area, comparison is made well-being cohorts born between 1840 1965 different environments (irrigated vs. dry farming). The results show recruits residing irrigated areas were taller than those farming nutritional differences greater among latter. advantage widened with development commercial agriculture at end nineteenth century and, although it began reduce from early decades twentieth century, anthropometric gap persisted throughout period analyzed. data also suggest distribution income was more unequal areas, where diet varied rich areas. situation could be largely explained by existence low productivity these other possible factors.