The Effect of Education on Adult Mortality and Health: Evidence from Britain

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Clark, Damon; Royer, Heather
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Irvine; University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.103.6.2087
• 发表日期: 2013
• 页码: 2087-2120
• 关键词: regression discontinuity designs; compulsory schooling laws; PROGRAM-EVALUATION; life expectancy; UNITED-STATES; smoking; income; differentials; inequalities; TECHNOLOGY

摘要

There is a strong, positive, and well-documented correlation between education and health outcomes. In this paper, we attempt to understand to what extent this relationship is causal. Our approach exploits two changes to British compulsory schooling laws that generated sharp across-cohort differences in educational attainment. Using regression discontinuity methods, we find the reforms did not affect health although the reforms impacted educational attainment and wages. Our results suggest caution as to the likely health returns to educational interventions focused on increasing educational attainment among those at risk of dropping out of high school, a target of recent health policy efforts.