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Relative age for grade and adolescent risky health behavior

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  • Johansen, Eva Rye

Abstract

This paper uses Danish register data to examine the effect of relative age for grade on women’s risky health behavior. I exploit an administrative rule that creates a discontinuous jump in relative age for grade for children born around January 1. Being young-for-grade leads to a higher probability of an abortion and alcohol poisoning in adolescence and earlier births, cohabitation and contraceptive use. The results show how relative age for grade is a determinant of adolescent women’s risky sex and heavy drinking. For men, being young-for-grade have no effect on alcohol poisonings, fatherhood and cohabitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Johansen, Eva Rye, 2021. "Relative age for grade and adolescent risky health behavior," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:76:y:2021:i:c:s0167629621000230
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102438
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    Cited by:

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    2. Fredriksson, Peter & Huttunen, Kristiina & Öckert, Björn, 2022. "School starting age, maternal age at birth, and child outcomes," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Cavallo, Mariagrazia & Dhuey, Elizabeth & Fumarco, Luca & Halewyck, Levi & ter Meulen, Simon, 2026. "The Economics of Age at School Entry: Insights from Evidence and Methods," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1707, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Christopher S. Carpenter & Brandyn F. Churchill, 2025. "Social Comparisons and Adolescent Body Misperception: Evidence From School Entry Cutoffs," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(9), pages 1691-1730, September.
    5. Chen Meng, 2023. "School Starting Age, Female Education, Fertility Decisions, and Infant Health: Evidence from China’s Compulsory Education Law," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(3), pages 1-48, June.
    6. Cristina Lopez-Mayan & Giulia Montresor & Catia Nicodemo, 2024. "“School Entry Age Policy and Adolescent Risk–Taking”," AQR Working Papers 202408, University of Barcelona, Regional Quantitative Analysis Group, revised Dec 2024.
    7. Cristina Borra & Libertad González & David Patiño, 2024. "Mothers' school starting age and infant health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 1153-1191, June.
    8. Fumarco, Luca & Hartmann, Sven A. & Principe, Francesco, 2026. "Influence of within-class age differences on adolescents’ eating behaviors," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    9. Lisa Schulkind & Ji Yan, 2025. "School Entry Policies, Maternal Education, and Pregnancy Outcomes: New Causal Evidence," Working Papers 25-07, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.

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