【题目】Spilled Milk, Rising Minds: Media Catalysts and Cognitive Dividend of Parents’ Avoidance Behavior

【时间】2025年5月23日（星期五）下午15:30

【地点】经济与管理学院文科2栋301会议室

【主讲人】梁超研究员

【主持人】刘愿教授

【主讲人简介】

梁超，山东大学经济研究院研究员，山东大学齐鲁青年学者、山东省泰山学者工程青年专家。专注发展经济学、劳动经济学等领域研究，多项成果发表于《经济研究》《经济学(季刊)》《世界经济》等期刊，研究成果曾获得山东省社会科学优秀成果奖、上海青年经济学者优秀成果奖、普华永道PWC3535论坛最佳论文等奖励。主持国家自科基金面上项目和青年项目、山东省重点研发计划重大项目、山东省自科基金、中国博士后基金特别资助等多项国家级和省部级课题，并担任《经济研究》《经济学(季刊)》《世界经济》等期刊审稿专家以及国家自科基金和社科基金通讯评审专家。

【摘要】

This study investigates the impact of media coverage on breastfeeding practices and children's development. Leveraging a difference-in-differences (DID) framework constructed from regionally heterogeneous media reports about the 2008 melamine contamination incident in China, we find that children in regions with more extensive coverage exhibit significantly longer breastfeeding duration and higher cognitive development outcomes. Highlighted media exposure correlates with a decline in infant formula prices, reflecting mothers' risk-averse behavioral responses. Additionally, we document a wage reduction in maternal labor with lactating babies. These findings provide novel evidence on the interplay between information dissemination, consumer behavior, and human capital development, while also highlighting unintended labor market consequences of public health crises.