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Health insurance and height inequality: evidence from European Health Insurance Expansions

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  • Baten, Jörg
  • Batinti, Alberto
  • Costa-Font, Joan
  • Radatz, Laura

Abstract

Health insurance expansions can improve health outcomes by increasing access to healthcare. This is especially true among the poorer segments of the population, who may not be able to afford the cost of healthcare, or might lack the information about where to seek proper medical care. In this paper we examine whether increased access to health insurance has historically reduced height inequality by promoting body growth, particularly among poorer individuals, and so enhanced their height, a widely used and well-established anthropometric health and well-being indicator. We draw on evidence from a panel of countries for which we could measure height inequality. Our evidence document clear evidence that indeed within-country differences in height inequality decreased following health insurance expansions towards near-universal coverage.

Suggested Citation

  • Baten, Jörg & Batinti, Alberto & Costa-Font, Joan & Radatz, Laura, 2024. "Health insurance and height inequality: evidence from European Health Insurance Expansions," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122716, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:122716
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    health insurance expansions; heights; health inequality; inequality; economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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