The Effects of Compulsory Schooling on Health and Hospitalization over the Life Cycle

Markus Gehrsitz () and Williams, Jr., Morgan C. ()
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Markus Gehrsitz: University of Strathclyde
Williams, Jr., Morgan C.: Barnard College

No 17050, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of education on health and hospitalization over the life cycle. Using administrative data, we leverage a 1972 compulsory schooling reform within the United Kingdom which produced a large increase in educational attainment among affected cohorts. Our regression discontinuity design estimates suggest that the reform led to substantial reductions in hospitalization among men admitted for lifestyle-related conditions. We also report novel estimates showing that these effects vary heterogeneously over the life-cycle – with the largest health improvements occurring among men in their middle-aged years. However, we find no evidence that the reform impacted mortality during working-age years.

Keywords: health; education; compulsory schooling; life cycle; gender differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I12 I14 I20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 91 pages
Date: 2024-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-hea
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