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Parental education and child health: Evidence from a schooling reform

Author

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  • Lindeboom, Maarten
  • Llena-Nozal, Ana
  • van der Klaauw, Bas

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of parental education on child health outcomes. To identify the causal effect we explore exogenous variation in parental education induced by a schooling reform in 1947, which raised the minimum school leaving age in the UK. Findings based on data from the National Child Development Study suggest that increasing the school leaving age by 1 year had little effect on the health of their offspring. Schooling did however improve economic opportunities by reducing financial difficulties among households.

Suggested Citation

  • Lindeboom, Maarten & Llena-Nozal, Ana & van der Klaauw, Bas, 2009. "Parental education and child health: Evidence from a schooling reform," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 109-131, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:28:y:2009:i:1:p:109-131
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Returns to education Intergenerational mobility Health Regression-discontinuity;

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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