The Roots of Health Inequality and the Value of Intrafamily Expertise

Yiqun Chen, Petra Persson and Maria Polyakova

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 185-223

Abstract: In the context of Sweden, we show that having a doctor in the family raises preventive health investments throughout the life cycle, improves physical health, and prolongs life. Two quasi-experimental research designs—medical school admission lotteries and variation in the timing of medical degrees—support a causal interpretation of these effects. A hypothetical policy that would bring the same health behavior changes and benefits to all Swedes would close 18 percent of the mortality-income gradient. Our results suggest that socioeconomic differences in exposure to health-related expertise may meaningfully contribute to health inequality.

JEL-codes: D15 G22 I12 I13 I14 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1257/app.20200405

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