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Earnings and overweight in Russia: Men and women

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  • Anastasiia Deeva

    (HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation)

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of Body-Mass-Index (BMI) on the earnings of men and women. The aim is to identify weight–wage discrimination in the Russian labour market, which results in overweight and obese people earning significantly less than normal-weight workers. The study is performed on a panel dataset from a Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS–HSE) collected by HSE University on individuals from 2013 to 2023 and Rosstat regional-level data for the corresponding years. Based on the results, it can be concluded that being overweight leads to a decrease in the wages of female employees, but it does not seem to affect the wages of male employees. The industry of occupation plays a role in determining the presence and degree of wage reduction of overweight women in Russia. The largest earnings penalty due to extra weight is found for women occupied in construction, education, trade, and consumer services industries. The size of earnings reduction, following one-point increase of BMI, varies from 3 to 9%. In such industries as transportation, agriculture, management, finance, and the energy industry no sign of weight–wage association is detected.

Suggested Citation

  • Anastasiia Deeva, 2025. "Earnings and overweight in Russia: Men and women," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 80, pages 47-67.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:apltrx:021846
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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