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The effect of education on health and health behaviors: Evidence from the college enrollment expansion in China

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  • Fu, Hongqiao
  • Ge, Run
  • Huang, Jialin
  • Shi, Xinzheng

Abstract

By exploiting the massive college enrollment expansion in China beginning in 1999, we investigate the effect of higher education on health and health behaviors. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies in 2018 and employing an instrumental variable approach, we find that higher education has a significant effect on health and health behaviors. Each additional year of education increases the probability of reporting good health and having good memory by 1.9 and 3.1 percentage points (pp), respectively. Moreover, it decreases the probability of being overweight, smoking, and drinking by 1.3, 2.3, and 1.2 pp., respectively. By comparing the effect size with the findings in previous literature, we conclude that the effect of education on health is greater at higher levels of education. Further analysis suggests that education may affect health and health behaviors through two channels: the resources acquired by individuals and the prices faced by them.

Suggested Citation

  • Fu, Hongqiao & Ge, Run & Huang, Jialin & Shi, Xinzheng, 2022. "The effect of education on health and health behaviors: Evidence from the college enrollment expansion in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:72:y:2022:i:c:s1043951x22000268
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2022.101768
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    6. Yanwen Long & Changli Jia & Xiaoxia Luo & Yufeng Sun & Wenjing Zuo & Yibo Wu & Yunchou Wu & Ayidana Kaierdebieke & Zhi Lin, 2022. "The Impact of Higher Education on Health Literacy: A Comparative Study between Urban and Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    7. Du, Yan & Yan, Jie & Cao, Fangzhou & Li, Yifei & Zhou, Mao, 2023. "Higher education expansion and domestic value added in exports: Theory and evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Zhang, Lifang & Zhu, Jiusheng, 2024. "Can higher education improve egalitarian gender role attitudes? Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    9. Zhou, Jie & Jamaani, Fouad, 2023. "Electricity production, government effectiveness eco-innovation, and public health: Novel findings in the context of sustainability policies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Higher education; Health; Health behaviors; College enrollment expansion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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