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Healthy Minds In Healthy Bodies: An International Comparison Of Education‐Related Inequality In Physical Health Among Older Adults

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  • Hendrik Jürges

Abstract

We study education‐related inequality in the physical health of older adults across 11 European countries and the United States. Combining the data from Health and Retirement Study 2002, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2002 and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe 2004, our results suggest that education is strongly correlated with health both across and within countries. Education‐related inequality in health is larger in Mediterranean and Anglo‐Saxon countries than in western European countries. We find no evidence of a trade‐off between health levels and equity in health. Education‐related inequality in health is hardly driven by income or wealth effects (except in the United States), and differences in health behaviours (smoking) by education level contribute little to health differences across education groups.

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  • Hendrik Jürges, 2009. "Healthy Minds In Healthy Bodies: An International Comparison Of Education‐Related Inequality In Physical Health Among Older Adults," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 56(3), pages 296-320, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scotjp:v:56:y:2009:i:3:p:296-320
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9485.2009.00485.x
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    1. Hendrik Jürges & Lars Thiel & Tabea Bucher-Koenen & Johannes Rausch & Morten Schuth & Axel Börsch-Supan, 2014. "Health, Financial Incentives, and Early Retirement: Microsimulation Evidence for Germany," NBER Chapters, in: Social Security Programs and Retirement Around the World: Disability Insurance Programs and Retirement, pages 285-330, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Kristian Bolin & Daniel Hedblom & Anna Lindgren & Bjorn Lindgren, 2010. "Asymmetric Information and the Demand for Voluntary Health Insurance in Europe," NBER Working Papers 15689, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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