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Attractiveness, Anthropometry or Both? Their Relationship and Role in Economic Research

Author

Listed:
  • Oreffice, Sonia

    (University of Exeter)

  • Quintana-Domeque, Climent

    (University of Exeter)

Abstract

We analyze how attractiveness rated at the start of the interview is related to weight (controlling for height), and BMI, separately by gender and also accounting for interviewer fixed effects, in a nationally representative sample. We are the first to show that height, weight, and BMI all strongly contribute to male and female attractiveness when attractiveness is rated by opposite-sex interviewers, whereas only thinner female respondents are considered attractive by same-sex interviewers; that is, anthropometric characteristics are irrelevant to male interviewers in assessing male attractiveness. In addition, we estimate the interplay of these attractiveness and anthropometric measures in labor and marital outcomes such as hourly wage and spousal education, showing that attractiveness and height matter in the labor market, whereas both male and female BMI are valued in the marriage market instead of attractiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Oreffice, Sonia & Quintana-Domeque, Climent, 2014. "Attractiveness, Anthropometry or Both? Their Relationship and Role in Economic Research," IZA Discussion Papers 8527, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hamermesh, Daniel S. & Abrevaya, Jason, 2013. "Beauty is the promise of happiness?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 351-368.
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    5. Doorley, Karina & Sierminska, Eva, 2012. "Myth or Fact? The Beauty Premium across the Wage Distribution," IZA Discussion Papers 6674, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Markus Gehrsitz, 2014. "Looks and Labor: Do Attractive People Work More?," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 28(3), pages 269-287, September.
    7. Oreffice, Sonia & Quintana-Domeque, Climent, 2010. "Anthropometry and socioeconomics among couples: Evidence in the United States," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 373-384, December.
    8. Dalton Conley & Brian J. McCabe, 2011. "Body Mass Index and Physical Attractiveness: Evidence From a Combination Image-Alteration/List Experiment," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 40(1), pages 6-31, February.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    BMI; height; weight; wage; spousal education; beauty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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