- Title
- MAKING SENSE OF THE LABOR MARKET HEIGHT PREMIUM: EVIDENCE FROM THE BRITISH HOUSEHOLD PANEL SURVEY
- Author(s)
- Anne Case Anne Case (Princeton University)
- Christina Paxson Christina Paxson (Princeton University)
- Mahnaz Islam Mahnaz Islam (Princeton University)
- Abstract
- We use nine waves of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) to investigate the large labor market height premium observed in the BHPS, where each inch of height is associated with a 1.5 percent increase in wages, for both men and women. We find that half of the premium can be explained by the association between height and educational attainment among BHPS participants. Of the remaining premium, half can be explained by taller individuals selecting into higher status occupations and industries. These effects are consistent with our earlier findings that taller individuals on average have greater cognitive function, which manifests in greater educational attainment, and better labor market opportunities.
- Creation Date
- 2008-05
- Section URL ID
- CHWB
- Paper Number
- 65
- URL
- https://drive.google.com/a/princeton.edu/file/d/0BwjFN4HbBrDBS3hGWDFERjlHSDA/view
- File Function
- Jel
- I1,J3
- Keyword(s)
- Suppress
- false
- Series
- 9