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Child Health, Human Capital and Adult Financial Behavior

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  • Luik, Marc-André

    (Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg)

Abstract

In this work, utilizing yearly variation between biological siblings, we test for a correlation between poor child health and adult household financial behavior, i.e. risky asset market participation. Using regression and decomposition techniques, we test if this long reach of child health operates through cognitive and non-cognitive skills. Our results indicate a negative correlation of roughly -4.1 percentage points conditional on demographics and family background. Slightly more than half of this correlation can be explained by differences in cognitive and non-cognitive skills. This work highlights the importance of good child health for adult financial behavior.

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  • Luik, Marc-André, 2016. "Child Health, Human Capital and Adult Financial Behavior," Working Paper 174/2013, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:vhsuwp:2013_174
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    3. Bantle, Melissa & Muijs, Matthias, 2018. "A new price test in geographic market definition – an application to german retail gasoline market," Working Paper 180/2018, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Portfolio choice; human capital; child health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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