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The effects of income on health: Evidence from lottery wins in Singapore

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  • Kim, Seonghoon
  • Koh, Kanghyock

Abstract

We estimate the causal effects of household income on self-reported health status by exploiting random variations in the amount of lottery prizes won. We find that a S$10,000 (US$7,245) increase in income via lottery wins improves individuals’ health by a standard deviation of 0.18. As possible mechanisms, we find that lottery wins increase household consumption spending and improve overall life satisfaction, but do not change healthcare spending, labor supply, and risky health behavior. Previous studies, which focused on the health effects of lottery prizes in Western European countries with strong social safety nets, do not find positive effects other than those on mental health. By contrast, the current study contributes to the literature by providing new evidence of the positive health effect of income via lottery wins in a country without strong social safety nets.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Seonghoon & Koh, Kanghyock, 2021. "The effects of income on health: Evidence from lottery wins in Singapore," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:76:y:2021:i:c:s0167629620310602
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2020.102414
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yung-Yu Tsai & Hsing-Wen Han & Kuang-Ta Lo & Tzu-Ting Yang, 2022. "The Effect of Financial Resources on Fertility: Evidence fromAdministrative Data on Lottery Winners," IEAS Working Paper : academic research 22-A007, Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
    3. Joan Costa-Font & Mario Györi, 2023. "Income windfalls and overweight: evidence from lottery wins," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(5), pages 2005-2026, May.
    4. Xiaojing Jia & Xin Luo, 2023. "Residents’ Health Effect of Environmental Regulations in Coal-Dependent Industries: Empirical Evidence from China’s Cement Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Nguyen, Cuong Viet & Nguyen, Minh Khanh Hoang & Phung, Tung Duc & Tran, Oanh Ngoc, 2023. "The effect of income shocks on health behaviors: Evidence from a low-income country," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 257-276.
    6. David Neumark, 2023. "The Effects of Minimum Wages on (Almost) Everything? A Review of Recent Evidence on Health and Related Behaviors," NBER Working Papers 31191, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Yung-Yu Tsai & Hsing-Wen Han & Kuang-Ta Lo & Tzu-Ting Yang, 2022. "The Effect of Financial Resources on Fertility: Evidence from Administrative Data on Lottery Winners," Papers 2212.06223, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2023.
    8. Koh, Kanghyock & Han, Hyojin, 2023. "Stock market risk and suicide," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Lanzhi Wei & Jianou Xu & Caifeng Luo & Rongzhu Lu & Hui Shi, 2022. "Latent Profile Analysis of Self-Supporting Ability among Rural Empty-Nesters in Northwestern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-21, December.
    10. Hsuan-Hua Huang & Hsing-Wen Han & Kuang-Ta Lo & Tzu-Ting Yang, 2023. "Liquidity Constraints, Cash Windfalls, and Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Administrative Data on Lottery Winners," Papers 2303.17029, arXiv.org.
    11. Rui Zhang & Chenglei Zhang & Jiahui Xia & Dawei Feng & Shaoyong Wu, 2022. "Household Wealth and Individuals’ Mental Health: Evidence from the 2012–2018 China Family Panel Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-18, September.

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