Education as a moderator of genetic mortality risk

Thao Le Nguyen and Hendrik Schmitz

No 1208, Ruhr Economic Papers from RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen

Abstract: In this paper we examine whether additional schooling can offset genetic disadvantages in longevity. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and polygenic scores for longevity, we study heterogeneity in the effects of education on panel attrition - a proxy that closely follows mortality for older individuals. Identification comes from the 1947 UK schooling reform, which raised the minimum school-leaving age from 14 to 15 and provides quasi-experimental variation in educational attainment. The results indicate that the reform effect varies by genetic mortality risk. There are no significant effects of an additional year of compulsory schooling on panel attrition among individuals in the group with lowest genetic mortality risk. In contrast, for the group with highest genetic mortality risk an additional year of compulsory schooling increases the probability of survival in the sample up to age 84. This suggests that the reform mitigated the genetic inequalities in longevity.

Keywords: Education; Mortality; Attrition; Gene-Environment Interactions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C31 J14 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:rwirep:341404

DOI: 10.4419/96973393

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