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Alcohol Consumption And Human Capital: A Retrospective Study Of The Literature

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Abstract

Grossman proposed an individual's health can be viewed as one aspect of their human capital. Following this line of thought a number of recent papers have reported a positive impact of alcohol consumption on earnings. The rationale for the existence of such a relationship is the positive impact of alcohol on physical and mental health. We conduct a meta‐analysis to determine whether such factors as: the estimation technique, the presence of ex‐drinkers in the sample, possible sample selection bias and publication bias may all contribute to these findings. An additional suggestion for the positive relationship between alcohol and wages is the presence of a common set of personality traits that determines drinking behaviour and also leads to higher earnings. We examine this relationship by reviewing the literature that investigates if the personality influencing aspects of alcohol consumption influences measures of human capital. We also survey the significant body of research that has examined how alcohol consumption has been found to influence educational outcomes and the work force participation of problem drinkers.

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  • Jenny Lye & Joe Hirschberg, 2010. "Alcohol Consumption And Human Capital: A Retrospective Study Of The Literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 309-338, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jecsur:v:24:y:2010:i:2:p:309-338
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6419.2009.00616.x
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    2. Sarah Brown & Mark N. Harris & Jake Prendergast & Preety Srivastava, 2015. "Pharmaceutical drug misuse: are industry of employment and occupation risk factors?," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(5-6), pages 398-417, November.
    3. John P. A. Ioannidis & T. D. Stanley & Hristos Doucouliagos, 2017. "The Power of Bias in Economics Research," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 127(605), pages 236-265, October.
    4. Sarah Brown & Mark N Harris & Jake Prendergast & Preety Srivastava, 2015. "Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse, Industry of Employment and Occupation," Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Working Paper series WP1501, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School.
    5. Daniel Slottje, 2010. "Human Capital Measurement: Theory And Practice," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 201-205, April.
    6. repec:wly:econjl:v::y:2017:i:605:p:f236-f265 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Pietro Giorgio Lovaglio, 2010. "The Estimation Of Human Capital By Administrative Archives In A Static And Longitudinal Perspective: The Case Of Milan," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 280-308, April.
    8. Yihong Bai & Michel Grignon, 2024. "Why do drinkers earn more? Job characteristics as a possible link," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 1133-1152, June.
    9. Giuseppe Folloni & Giorgio Vittadini, 2010. "Human Capital Measurement: A Survey," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 248-279, April.
    10. James Fogarty & Giri Parameswaran, 2017. "Alcohol Sin Taxes," Working Papers 257211, University of Western Australia, School of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

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