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Distributional Effects of Education on Health

Author

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  • Silvia H. Barcellos
  • Leandro S. Carvalho
  • Patrick Turley

Abstract

We study the distributional effects of education on health. In 1972, England, Scotland, and Wales raised their minimum school leaving age from 15 to 16 for students born after September 1, 1957. Using a regression discontinuity design and objective health measures for 129,000 individuals, we find that education reduced body size and increased blood pressure in middle age. The reduction in body size was concentrated at the upper tail of the distribution with an eight percentage point reduction in obesity. The increase in blood pressure was concentrated at the lower tail of the distribution, with no effect on stage 2 hypertension.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia H. Barcellos & Leandro S. Carvalho & Patrick Turley, 2023. "Distributional Effects of Education on Health," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 58(4), pages 1273-1306.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:58:y:2023:i:4:p:1273-1306
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.59.2.0720-11064R1
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/58/4/1273
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    Cited by:

    1. Teresa Barbieri & Vito Peragine & Michele Raitano, 2025. "The effect of education on earnings dynamics: evidence from Italy," SERIES 03-2025, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza - Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", revised Oct 2025.
    2. Meredith M. Paker, 2025. "Review of periodical literature for 2023: (vi) 1945 to present," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 78(1), pages 387-397, February.
    3. Ma, Qingshan & Han, Yuqing & Chen, Mingcong & Hu, Feng & Zhou, Haiyan, 2026. "The impact of a large-scale chronic disease prevention and control program on the health benefits of older adults: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Janke, Katharina & Johnston, David W. & Propper, Carol & Shields, Michael A., 2020. "The causal effect of education on chronic health conditions in the UK," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. Michael Geruso & Heather Royer, 2018. "The Impact of Education on Family Formation: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from the UK," NBER Working Papers 24332, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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