The NBER and Birth Records

While you might think that your birth certificate and birth records are of no importance to anyone but yourself, they actual provide vital information about the health of the nation. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) keeps track of this type of information.

Keeping track of birth records can provide interesting results and information. For example, a study of birth and death records can help researchers gain insight on infant mortality. Monitoring these records can indicate if the population of a given state or area is growing or declining. Birth records can also give important information about the birth of multiples, including their size, gestation, birth weight, and number of fetal deaths.

This information provides researchers with statistical data. It can allow them to see if new medical research is helping to improve the life expectancy, help them to determine what medical advancements are needed to help save young infants, or see if certain populations need extra medical assistance. With this information, treatments, funding, and other health programs can be targeted towards those that need them most.