Revisiting the Effect of Education on Later Life Health

Figinski, Theodore F.; Lloro, Alicia; Moorthy, Avinash

doi:10.17016/FEDS.2022.007

Working Paper

Revisiting the Effect of Education on Later Life Health

Abstract: We provide new evidence on the effect of education on later life health. Using variation in state compulsory schooling laws, we examine education's effect on a range of outcomes encompassing physical health, decision-making, and life expectancy. We employ under-utilized Health and Retirement Study data linked to restricted geographic identifiers, allowing us to match individuals more accurately to compulsory schooling laws. While positively related to educational attainment, compulsory schooling laws have no significant effect on later life health outcomes. Our results suggest that increased educational attainment has no significant causal effect on health.

Keywords: Compulsory school attendance laws; Returns to education; Human capital; Health; Education policy;

JEL Classification: H75; I12; I26; I28; J24;

https://doi.org/10.17016/FEDS.2022.007