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Intergenerational mobility in self-reported health status in the US

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  • Halliday, Timothy
  • Mazumder, Bhashkar
  • Wong, Ashley

Abstract

We present estimates of intergenerational mobility in self-reported health status (SRHS) in the US using data from the PSID. We estimate that the rank-rank slope in SRHS is 0.26. We show that including both parent health and income in models of intergenerational mobility increases the explanatory power of child outcomes. We construct a monetary metric for health and then use this to combine income and health into a measure of welfare and estimate the rank-rank slope to be about 0.4 for this new measure. Finally, we document striking health mobility gaps by race, region and parent education.

Suggested Citation

  • Halliday, Timothy & Mazumder, Bhashkar & Wong, Ashley, 2021. "Intergenerational mobility in self-reported health status in the US," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:193:y:2021:i:c:s0047272720301717
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104307
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    6. Fletcher, Jason & Jajtner, Katie M., 2023. "Multidimensional intergenerational mobility," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    7. Chang, Harrison & Halliday, Timothy J. & Lin, Ming-Jen & Mazumder, Bhashkar, 2024. "Estimating intergenerational health transmission in Taiwan with administrative health records," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    8. Kettlewell, Nathan & Tymula, Agnieszka & Yoo, Hong Il, 2023. "The Heritability of Economic Preferences," IZA Discussion Papers 16633, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Jiao Lu & Yang Yang & Yang Gao, 2024. "Research on the Spatial and Temporal Patterns and Formation Mechanisms of Intergenerational Health Mobility in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 709-740, July.
    10. Wang, Jinchao & Luo, Changfu & Dong, Yanfang & Guo, Chu-yu, 2024. "Does intergenerational mobility affect corporate innovation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 526-538.
    11. Hou, Bingdong & Wu, Jingwen & Mi, Zhifu & Ma, Chunbo & Shi, Xunpeng & Liao, Hua, 2022. "Cooking fuel types and the health effects: A field study in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

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