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Health and wealth of elderly couples : causality tests using dynamic panel data

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Author Info
Michaud, P.C.
Soest, A.H.O. van (Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research)

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Abstract

A positive relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and health, the so-called \health-wealth gradient", is repeatedly found in most industrialized countries with similar levels of health care technology and economic welfare. This study analyzes causality from health to wealth (health causation) and from wealth to health (wealth or social causation) for elderly couples in the US. Using six biennial waves of couples aged 51-61 in 1992 from the Health and Retirement Study, we compare the recently developed strategy using Granger causality tests of Adams et al. (2003, Journal of Econometrics) with tests for causality in dynamic panel data models incorporating unobserved heterogeneity. While Adams et al. tests reject the hypothesis of no causality from wealth to husband's or wife's health, the tests in the dynamic panel data model do not provide evidence of wealth-health causality. On the other hand, both methodologies lead to strong evidence of causal e.ects from both spouses' health on household wealth.

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Paper provided by Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research in its series Discussion Paper with number 81.

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Date of creation: 2004
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:kubcen:200481

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data
D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Production
J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped

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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Nilsson, William, 2006. "Socioeconomic Status and Sickness Absence - What do twins tell us about causality?," UmeÃ¥ Economic Studies 670, Umeå University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  2. Gisela Hostenkamp & Michael Stolpe, 2006. "The Health Gradient and Early Retirement: Evidence from the German Socio-economic Panel," Kiel Working Papers 1305, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. [Downloadable!]
  3. Michaud, P.C. & Vermeulen, F.M.P., 2004. "A collective retirement model : identification and estimation in the presence of externalities," Discussion Paper 75, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Pierre-Carl Michaud & Frederic Vermeulen, 2006. "A Collective Labor Supply Model: Identification and Estimation in the Presence of Externalities by Means of Panel Data," Working Papers 406, RAND Corporation Publications Department. [Downloadable!]
  5. Florian Heiss & Axel Börsch-Supan & Michael Hurd & David Wise, 2007. "Pathways to Disability: Predicting Health Trajectories," MEA discussion paper series 07131, Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging (MEA), University of Mannheim. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
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