Biomarkers and Long-term Labour Market Outcomes: The Case of Creatine

Petri Böckerman (), Alex Bryson, Jutta Viinikainen, Christian Hakulinen (), Laura Pulkki-Raback () and Olli Raitakari ()
Additional contact information
Christian Hakulinen: University of Helsinki
Laura Pulkki-Raback: University of Helsinki
Olli Raitakari: University of Turku

No 8029, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using the Young Finns Study (YFS) combined with the Finnish Linked Employer-Employee Data (FLEED) we show that quantities of creatine measured in 1980 prior to labour market entry affect labour market outcomes over the period 1990-2010. Those with higher levels of creatine (proxied by urine creatinine) prior to labour market entry spend more time in the labour market in the subsequent two decades and earn more. Creatine is not associated with high educational attainment. The associations between creatine and labour market outcomes are robust to controlling for other biomarkers, educational attainment and parental background. Creatine is a naturally occurring nitrogenous organic acid which supplies energy to body cells, including muscles. Our findings are consistent with high energy levels, induced by creatine, leading to productivity-enhancing traits such as a high propensity for effort, perseverance, and high-commitment.

Keywords: biomarkers; creatine; creatinine; labour market; earnings; employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 J24 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2014-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 2017, 142, 259-274

Downloads: (external link)
https://docs.iza.org/dp8029.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Biomarkers and long-term labour market outcomes: The case of creatine (2017)
Working Paper: Biomarkers and long-term labour market outcomes: the case of creatine (2014)
Working Paper: Biomarkers and Long-term Labour Market Outcomes: The Case of Creatine (2014)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8029

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from
IZA, Margard Ody, P.O. Box 7240, D-53072 Bonn, Germany

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) IZA, P.O. Box 7240, D-53072 Bonn, Germany. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Holger Hinte ().