Making Sense of the Labor Market Height Premium: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey

11 Pages Posted: 16 May 2008 Last revised: 10 Oct 2022

See all articles by Anne Case

Anne Case

Princeton University - Research Program in Development Studies; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Christina H. Paxson

Princeton University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Mahnaz Islam

Princeton University

Date Written: May 2008

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.

Suggested Citation

Case, Anne and Paxson, Christina H. and Islam, Mahnaz, Making Sense of the Labor Market Height Premium: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey (May 2008). NBER Working Paper No. w14007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1133921

Anne Case (Contact Author)

Princeton University - Research Program in Development Studies ( email )

Woodrow Wilson School
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Christina H. Paxson

Princeton University ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Mahnaz Islam

Princeton University ( email )

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Princeton, NJ 08544-0708
United States

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