Life at the top: the benefits of height

Angus Deaton () and Raksha Arora

No 15090, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index daily poll of the US population, taller people live better lives, at least on average. They evaluate their lives more favorably, and they are more likely to report a range of positive emotions such as enjoyment and happiness. They are also less likely to report a range of negative experiences, like sadness, and physical pain, though they are more likely to experience stress and anger, and if they are women, to worry. These findings cannot be attributed to different demographic or ethnic characteristics of taller people, but are almost entirely explained by the positive association between height and both income and education, both of which are positively linked to better lives.

JEL-codes: D6 I10 I30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: Written
Note: AG HC
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Journal Article: Life at the top: The benefits of height (2009)
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