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Family Size, Household Wealth and Socio-economic Status Across the Body Mass Index Distribution During US Economic Development

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  • Scott Alan Carson

Abstract

Households behave systematically in family planning and intra-household resource allocation. A neglected area in historical health studies is the relationship between body mass index (BMI), health and family size. Using robust statistics and a large nineteenth-century BMI data set, this study uses an overlapping generations model to explain resource allocation within the household and illustrates that there is a positive relationship across the BMI distribution with family size. There is also a positive relationship between BMIs and average wealth, and an inverse relationship between BMI and inequality. After controlling for family size and wealth characteristics, there was a positive relationship between BMI and worker’s agricultural rural status. JEL: N3, D1, I1

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Alan Carson, 2021. "Family Size, Household Wealth and Socio-economic Status Across the Body Mass Index Distribution During US Economic Development," Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, , vol. 33(2), pages 147-166, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jinter:v:33:y:2021:i:2:p:147-166
    DOI: 10.1177/0260107921989908
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Family economics; body mass index; wealth and inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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