The Business Cycle and Health Behaviors

Xin Xu and Robert Kaestner

No 15737, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: In this paper, we take a structural approach to investigate the effects of wages and working hours on health behaviors of low-educated persons using variation in wages and hours caused by changes in economic activity. We find that increases in hours are associated with an increase in cigarette smoking, a reduction in physical activity, and fewer visits to physicians. More importantly, we find that most of the effects associated with changes in hours can be attributed to the changes in the extensive margin of employment. Increases in wages are associated with greater consumption of cigarettes.

JEL-codes: I12 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-hea and nep-lab
Note: EH
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

Published as Xin Xu, 2013. "The business cycle and health behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, vol 77, pages 126-136.

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