The effects of adolescent health on educational outcomes: Causal evidence using genetic lotteries between siblings

Citation

Fletcher, Jason M. & Lehrer, Steven F. (2009). The effects of adolescent health on educational outcomes: Causal evidence using genetic lotteries between siblings. Forum for Health Economics and Policy. vol. 12 (2)

Abstract

There has been growing interest in using specific genetic markers as instrumental variables in attempts to assess causal relationships between health status and socioeconomic outcomes, including
human capital accumulation. In this paper, we use a combination of family fixed effects and genetic marker instruments to estimate the causal effects of poor adolescent mental and physical health status on years of completed schooling. By exploiting the genetic variation in inheritance within families, this empirical strategy presents a unique opportunity to isolate the variation in genetic factors from other dynastic and family characteristics. We present evidence that inattentive symptoms in early childhood have large lasting effects in reducing completed schooling. We also find little consistent evidence that adolescent overweight status influences years of schooling completed.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.2202/1558-9544.1180

Keyword(s)

Genetic Education

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Forum for Health Economics and Policy

Author(s)

Fletcher, Jason M.
Lehrer, Steven F.

Year Published

2009

Volume Number

12

Issue Number

2

ISSN/ISBN

1558-9544

DOI

10.2202/1558-9544.1180

Reference ID

1113