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Weight discrimination in the German labour market

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  • Marina-Selini Katsaiti
  • Mrittika Shamsuddin

Abstract

We explore the effects of higher body mass index (BMI) or obesity on different labour market outcomes. We extend the present literature by investigating the effect of obesity on (i) promotion likelihood and (ii) unemployment duration, in addition to the effect on (iii) wages and (iv) probability of being employed. We find an obesity penalty on wages, employment likelihood, promotion likelihood and unemployment duration among females in Germany taking into account of endogeneity of BMI and sample selection. We are also able to identify an unexplained effect of obesity on wages, employment and promotion likelihood for females using decomposition techniques that can be attributed to weight discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina-Selini Katsaiti & Mrittika Shamsuddin, 2016. "Weight discrimination in the German labour market," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(43), pages 4167-4182, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:48:y:2016:i:43:p:4167-4182
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2016.1153791
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    1. Li, Shuanglong & Chen, Yunsong & He, Guangye, 2018. "Laugh and grow fat: Happiness affects body mass index among Urban Chinese adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 55-63.
    2. Groves, Jeremy & Wilcox, Virginia, 2023. "The impact of overweight and obesity on unemployment duration among young American workers," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    3. Gross, Christiane & Gurr, Thomas & Jungbauer-Gans, Monika & Lang, Sebastian, 2020. "Prejudices against the unemployed - empirical evidence from Germany," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 54(1), pages 1-3.

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