Spillover Effects of Local Human Capital Stock on Adult Obesity – Evidence from German Neighborhoods

55 Pages Posted: 27 Dec 2015

See all articles by Rui Dang

Rui Dang

Istanbul Technical University; Dartmouth College - Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice; Rhine-Westphalia Institute for Economic Research (RWI-Essen)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 21, 2015

Abstract

This paper is the first to estimate the causal effect of local human capital stock on individual adiposity and adds to the existing literature on estimating human capital externalities at the neighborhood level. We explore the possible causal pathways that college-educated neighbors exert on individual body weight, with the results revealing small yet significant human capital spillover effects. Among all adults, a percentage point increase in the neighborhood college graduates share results in a decrease of individual body mass index by 0.0026 log points, as well as a decrease of the individual likelihood of being overweight by 0.77 percentage points. Among high school graduates and college graduates, a percentage point increase in the neighborhood college graduates share results in a decrease of individual likelihood of being overweight by approximately 0.83 percentage points.

Keywords: Obesity; local human capital externalities; control function; non-random sorting

JEL Classification: I00, R23

Suggested Citation

Dang, Rui, Spillover Effects of Local Human Capital Stock on Adult Obesity – Evidence from German Neighborhoods (October 21, 2015). Ruhr Economic Paper No. 585, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2706593 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2706593

Rui Dang (Contact Author)

Istanbul Technical University ( email )

Maçka
Istambul
Turkey

Dartmouth College - Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice ( email )

United States

Rhine-Westphalia Institute for Economic Research (RWI-Essen) ( email )

Hohenzollernstr. 1-3
Essen, 45128
Germany

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