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A Sibling-Pair Analysis for Causal Effect of Education on Health

Author

Listed:
  • Bai Yu

    (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, P.zza Scaravilli 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy)

  • Li Yanjun

    (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, P.zza Scaravilli 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

This paper examines the causal effect of education on long-run physical health, using survey data on matched siblings. By adopting a sibling-differences strategy, we are able to obtain estimates that are not biased by unobserved genetic factors and family background which affect both education and health. To address the potential endogenous shocks that affect siblings differently within the family, we further employ an instrumental variable approach by exploiting a profound disturbance in the education system during the Cultural Revolution in China. The within-sibling estimates suggest that an additional year of schooling is found to be positively related to health status later in life (better self-reported health, lower probability of feeling uncomfortable, getting chronic diseases, and being underweight). We also unravel the potential roles of income and cognition in the effects of education on health.

Suggested Citation

  • Bai Yu & Li Yanjun, 2018. "A Sibling-Pair Analysis for Causal Effect of Education on Health," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:18:y:2018:i:4:p:10:n:10
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2018-0121
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Petter Lundborg, 2013. "The health returns to schooling—what can we learn from twins?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 26(2), pages 673-701, April.
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    6. Ashenfelter, Orley & Krueger, Alan B, 1994. "Estimates of the Economic Returns to Schooling from a New Sample of Twins," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(5), pages 1157-1173, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    siblings; health outcomes; returns to schooling; the cultural revolution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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