Height, skills, and labor market outcomes in Mexico

Tom S. Vogl

Journal of Development Economics, 2014, vol. 107, issue C, 84-96

Abstract: Taller workers are paid higher wages. A prominent explanation for this pattern is that physical growth and cognitive development share childhood inputs, inducing a correlation between adult height and two productive skills: strength and intelligence. This paper explores the relative roles of strength and intelligence in explaining the labor market height premium among Mexican men. While cognitive test scores account for a limited share of the height premium, roughly half of the premium can be attributed to the educational and occupational choices of taller workers. Taller workers obtain more education and sort into occupations with greater intelligence requirements and lower strength requirements, suggesting a possible role for cognitive skill.

Keywords: Health; Development; Height; Labor productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 J24 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (62)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:deveco:v:107:y:2014:i:c:p:84-96

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2013.11.007

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