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Lose Weight for Money Only if Over-Weight: Marginal Integration for Semi-Linear Panel Models

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Abstract

Body mass index (BMI), weight(kg)/ height(m)2, is a widely used measure for obesity in medical science. In economics, there appeared studies (e.g., Cawley (2004) and Burkhauser and Cawley (2008)) showing that BMI has a negative (or no) effect on wage. But BMI is a tightly specified function of weight and height, and there is no priori reason to believe why the particular function is the best to combine weight and height. In this paper, we address the question of weight effect on wage, employing two-wave panel data for white females; the same panel data with more waves were used originally in Cawley (2004). We posit a semi-linear model consisting of a nonparametric function of height and weight and a linear function of the other regressors. The model is differenced to get rid of the unit specific effect, which results in a difference of two nonparametric functions with the same shape. We estimate each nonparametric function with a ‘marginal integration method’, and then combine the two estimated functions using the same shape restriction. We find that there is no weight effect on wage up to the average weight, beyond which a large negative effect kicks in. The effect magnitude is greater than that in Cawley (2004) who used a linear BMI model. The linear model gives the false impression that there would be a wage gain by becoming slimmer than the average and that the ‘obesity penalty’ is less that what it actually is.

Suggested Citation

  • Kan K & Lee M, 2009. "Lose Weight for Money Only if Over-Weight: Marginal Integration for Semi-Linear Panel Models," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 09/19, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    • Handle: RePEc:yor:hectdg:09/19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Myoung-jae Lee, 1999. "A Root-N Consistent Semiparametric Estimator for Related-Effect Binary Response Panel Data," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 67(2), pages 427-434, March.
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    7. Burkhauser, Richard V. & Cawley, John, 2008. "Beyond BMI: The value of more accurate measures of fatness and obesity in social science research," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 519-529, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guardado, José R. & Ziebarth, Nicolas R., 2013. "A Model of Worker Investment in Safety and Its Effects on Accidents and Wages," IZA Discussion Papers 7428, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    BMI; weight effect on wage; panel data; semi-linear model; marginal integration.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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