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Education and Health: Evaluating Theories and Evidence

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Author Info
David M. Cutler
Adriana Lleras-Muney

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Abstract

There is a large and persistent association between education and health. In this paper, we review what is known about this link. We first document the facts about the relationship between education and health. The education %u2018gradient%u2019 is found for both health behaviors and health status, though the former does not fully explain the latter. The effect of education increases with increasing years of education, with no evidence of a sheepskin effect. Nor are there differences between blacks and whites, or men and women. Gradients in behavior are biggest at young ages, and decline after age 50 or 60. We then consider differing reasons why education might be related to health. The obvious economic explanations %u2013 education is related to income or occupational choice %u2013 explain only a part of the education effect. We suggest that increasing levels of education lead to different thinking and decision-making patterns. The monetary value of the return to education in terms of health is perhaps half of the return to education on earnings, so policies that impact educational attainment could have a large effect on population health.

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 12352.

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Date of creation: Jul 2006
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Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12352

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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    Other versions:
  3. Janet Currie & Enrico Moretti, 2003. "Mother'S Education And The Intergenerational Transmission Of Human Capital: Evidence From College Openings," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 118(4), pages 1495-1532, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
  7. David Cutler & Angus Deaton & Adriana Lleras-Muney, 2005. "The Determinants of Mortality," Working Papers 235, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Health and Wellbeing.. [Downloadable!]
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  15. Sandra E. Black & Paul J. Devereux & Kjell G. Salvanes, 2005. "From the Cradle to the Labor Market? The Effect of Birth Weight on Adult Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 1864, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. David M. Cutler & Adriana Lleras-Muney & Tom Vogl, 2008. "Socioeconomic Status and Health: Dimensions and Mechanisms," NBER Working Papers 14333, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Jürgen Maurer, 2007. "Socioeconomic and Health Determinants of Health Care Utilization Among Elderly Europeans: A Semiparametric Assessment of Equity, Intensity and Responsiveness for Ten European Countries," MEA discussion paper series 07144, Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging (MEA), University of Mannheim. [Downloadable!]
  3. Saqib Jafarey, 2008. "Glass slippers and glass ceilings: A positive analysis of gender inequality and marriage," City University Economics Discussion Papers 08/12, Department of Economics, City University, London. [Downloadable!]
  4. Lixin Cai, 2008. "Be Wealthy to Stay Healthy: An Analysis of Older Australians Using the HILDA Survey," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2008n08, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne. [Downloadable!]
  5. Janet Currie & Mark Stabile & Phongsack Manivong & Leslie L. Roos, 2008. "Child Health and Young Adult Outcomes," NBER Working Papers 14482, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Ciro Avitabile & Tullio Jappelli & Mario Padula, 2008. "Screening Tests, Information, and the Health-Education Gradient," CSEF Working Papers 187, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy, revised 28 Apr 2008. [Downloadable!]
  7. RICCI Francesco & ZACHARIADIS Marios, 2009. "Longevity and Education Externalities: A Macroeconomic Perspective," Working Papers 09.02.278, LERNA, University of Toulouse. [Downloadable!]
  8. Chen, Keith & Lange, Fabian, 2008. "Education, Information, and Improved Health: Evidence from Breast Cancer Screening," IZA Discussion Papers 3548, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
  9. Elisenda Rentería & Cassio M. Turra, 2009. "Measuring educational differences in mortality among women living in highly unequal societies with defective data: the case of Brazil," Textos para Discussão Cedeplar-UFMG td348, Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. [Downloadable!]
  10. Lambrelli, D & O’Donnell, O, 2009. "Why Does the Utilization of Pharmaceuticals Vary So Much Across Europe? Evidence from Micro Data on Older Europeans," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 09/06, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York. [Downloadable!]
  11. Bridget Terry Long, 2007. "Do loans increase college access and choice?: examining the introduction of universal student loans," New England Public Policy Center Working Paper 07-1, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. [Downloadable!]
  12. Maarten Lindeboom & Ana Llena-Nozal & Bas van der Klaauw, 2006. "Parental Education and Child Health: Evidence from a Schooling Reform," IZA Discussion Papers 2516, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  13. Donata Bessey & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2007. "Premature Apprenticeship Terminations: An Economic Analysis," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0002, University of Zurich, Institute for Strategy and Business Economics (ISU). [Downloadable!]
  14. Anderberg, Dan & Chevalier, Arnaud & Wadsworth, Jonathan, 2008. "Anatomy of a Health Scare: Education, Income and the MMR Controversy in the UK," IZA Discussion Papers 3590, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  15. Jason M. Fletcher & Jody L. Sindelar, 2009. "Estimating Causal Effects of Early Occupational Choice on Later Health: Evidence Using the PSID," NBER Working Papers 15256, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  16. Philip A. Trostel, 2007. "The fiscal impacts of college attainment," New England Public Policy Center Working Paper 07-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. [Downloadable!]
  17. Petter Lundborg, 2008. "The Health Returns to Education - What can we learn from Twins?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 08-027/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  18. Donata Bessey & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2008. "Dropping out and revising educational decisions: Evidence from vocational education," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0040, University of Zurich, Institute for Strategy and Business Economics (ISU). [Downloadable!]
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