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Does Physical Capacity Explain the Height Premium?

Author

Listed:
  • Petri Böckerman

    (Labour Institute for Economic Research and University of Tampere)

  • Edvard Johansson

    (The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy, University of Jyväskylä and Helsinki Centre for Economic Research (HECER))

  • Urpo Kiiskinen

    (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

  • Markku Heilövaara

    (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

Abstract

The paper examines the role of physical capacity in the determination of the height premium by using the "Health 2000 in Finland" data that contain both self-reported information on the physical strenuousness of work, and information on muscle mass from medical examinations. Our results show that the height premium does not vary according to the physical strenuousness of work. We also find that muscle mass is not related to wages. Furthermore, we observe that the shortest men do physically very demanding work and the tallest do sedentary work, even after controlling for the effectsof age and education.

Suggested Citation

  • Petri Böckerman & Edvard Johansson & Urpo Kiiskinen & Markku Heilövaara, 2010. "Does Physical Capacity Explain the Height Premium?," Working Papers 1074, Tampere University, Faculty of Management and Business, Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tam:wpaper:1074
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    File URL: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:978-951-44-7987-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Tall people get paid more despite sedentary work
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2010-03-01 21:51:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Erik Lindqvist, 2012. "Height and Leadership," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 94(4), pages 1191-1196, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    height; height premium; body composition; wages;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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