In this Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Biosocial Collective seminar, Gabriella will present new evidence on gene-environment interactions in child development and health, synthesising experimental insights from an early childhood intervention in Colombia and quasi-experimental findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.

The first study examines how genetic predisposition to educational attainment moderates the effects of a randomised early childhood stimulation programme. Findings indicate that the intervention significantly reduces disparities associated with genetic disadvantage, suggesting that enriched environments can compensate for lower genetic endowments.

The second study estimates health production functions that integrate both genetic and environmental influences. Preliminary results highlight the complex and dynamic interplay between genetic predispositions, health investments and home environments in shaping health trajectories, emphasising the role of family-based interventions in mitigating health disparities.

Gabriella Conti is a Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and in the Social Research Institute at University College London. She is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), CESifo and IZA Bonn. Gabriella is also Associate Editor at Health Economics, Trustee at the Foundation Years Information and Research, and scientific adviser of the Lancet Commission for Gender-Based Violence and Maltreatment of Young People.