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The international epidemiological transition and the education gender gap

Author

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  • Mariko J. Klasing

    (University of Groningen)

  • Petros Milionis

    (University of Groningen)

Abstract

We explore the impact of the international epidemiological transition on educational attainment of males and females over the second half of the twentieth century. Using an instrumental variables strategy that exploits pre-existing variation in mortality rates across infectious diseases and gender differences in the responsiveness to the method of disease control, we document that health improvements associated with the transition led to larger gains in life expectancy for females due to their stronger immune response to vaccination. These relative gains were associated with greater increases in the educational attainment of females compared to males and account for a large share of the reduction in the education gender gap that took place over this period.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariko J. Klasing & Petros Milionis, 2020. "The international epidemiological transition and the education gender gap," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 37-86, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jecgro:v:25:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s10887-020-09175-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10887-020-09175-6
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    5. Leandro Prados de la Escosura, 2023. "Inequality Beyond GDP: A Long View," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 69(3), pages 533-554, September.
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    7. Dessy, Sylvain & Tiberti, Luca & Zoundi, David, 2023. "The gender education gap in developing countries: Roles of income shocks and culture," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 160-180.
    8. repec:cte:whrepe:34493 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. La Torre, Davide & Liuzzi, Danilo & Marsiglio, Simone, 2021. "Epidemics and macroeconomic outcomes: Social distancing intensity and duration," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    10. Yahyaoui Ismahene, 2022. "Infectious Diseases, Trade, and Economic Growth: a Panel Analysis of Developed and Developing Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2547-2583, September.
    11. Strulik, Holger & Grossmann, Volker, 2024. "The economics of aging with infectious and chronic diseases," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    12. Davide La Torre & Danilo Liuzzi & Simone Marsiglio, 2022. "Geographical heterogeneities and externalities in an epidemiological‐macroeconomic framework," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 24(5), pages 1154-1181, October.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International epidemiological transition; Vaccination; Life expectancy; Education; Gender differences; Economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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