The Effect of Superstition on Health: Evidence from the Taiwanese Ghost Month

Martin Halla, Chia-Lun Liu () and Jin-Tan Liu
Additional contact information
Chia-Lun Liu: Lehigh University, USA, https://www1.lehigh.edu/

No 2019-01, Economics working papers from Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria

Abstract: Superstition is a widespread phenomenon. We empirically examine its impact on health-related behavior and health outcomes. We study the case of the Taiwanese Ghost month. During this period, which is believed to increase the likelihood of bad outcomes, we observe substantial adaptions in health-related behavior. Our identification exploits idiosyncratic variation in the timing of the Ghost Month across Gregorian calendar years. Using high-quality administrative data, we document for the period of the Ghost Months reductions in mortality, hospital admissions, and births. While the effect on mortality is a quantum effect, the latter two effects reflect changes in the timing of events. Efficient public health policy should account for emotional and cultural factors.

Keywords: Superstition; false beliefs; health; risky activities; health-care utilization; mortality; fertility; birth outcomes. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 D91 I12 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2019-01
Note: English
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: The Effect of Superstition on Health: Evidence from the Taiwanese Ghost Month (2019)
Working Paper: The Effect of Superstition on Health: Evidence from the Taiwanese Ghost Month (2019)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jku:econwp:2019_01

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