Education and Health: The Role of Cognitive Ability

Govert Bijwaard, Hans van Kippersluis () and Justus Veenman ()
Additional contact information
Hans van Kippersluis: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Justus Veenman: Erasmus University Rotterdam

No 7648, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We aim to disentangle the relative contributions of (i) cognitive ability, and (ii) education on health and mortality using a structural equation model suggested by Conti et al. (2010). We extend their model by allowing for a duration dependent variable, and an ordinal educational variable. Data come from a Dutch cohort born between 1937 and 1941, including detailed measures of cognitive ability and family background at age 12. The data are subsequently linked to the mortality register 1995-2011, such that we observe mortality between ages 55 and 75. The results suggest that at least half of the unconditional survival differences between educational groups are due to a 'selection effect', primarily on basis of cognitive ability. Conditional survival differences across those having finished just primary school and those entering secondary education are still substantial, and amount to a 4 years gain in life expectancy, on average.

Keywords: structural equation model; mortality; cognitive ability; education; duration model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C41 I14 I24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2013-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-neu
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published - published in: Journal of Health Economics, 2015, 42, 29–43

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Related works:
Journal Article: Education and health: The role of cognitive ability (2015)
Working Paper: Education and Health: The Role of Cognitive Ability (2013)
Working Paper: Education and Health: The Role of Cognitive Ability (2013)
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