Parental Income and Child Health in Germany

Preview

PDF
meadp_175_09.pdf - Published
Download (298kB)

URL:	https://ub-madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/2289
URN:	urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-22892
Document Type:	Working paper
Year of publication:	2009
The title of a journal, publication series:	MEA Discussion Papers
Volume:	175
Place of publication:	Mannheim
Publication language:	English
Institution:	School of Law and Economics > Sonstige - Fakultät für Rechtswissenschaft und Volkswirtschaftslehre
MADOC publication series:	Veröffentlichungen des MEA (Mannheim Research Institute For the Economics of Aging) > MEA Discussion Papers
Subject:	300 Social sciences, sociology, anthropology
Classification:	JEL: J13 I12 ,
Subject headings (SWD):	Deutschland , Gesundheit , Kind , Eltern , Einkommen , Bildungsabschluss
Keywords (English):	Parental Income , Child Health , Educational Attainment
Abstract:	We use newly available data from Germany to study the relationship between parental income and child health. We find a strong gradient between parental income and subjective child health as has been documented earlier in the US, Canada and the UK. The relationship in Germany is about as strong in the US and stronger than in the UK. However, in contrast to US results, we do not find that the disadvantages associated with low parental income accumulate as the child ages, nor that children from low socioeconomic background are more likely to suffer from 'objectively measured' health problems - except for obesity. There is some evidence, however, that high income children are better able to cope with the adverse consequences of chronic conditions. Finally, we do not find that child health (except for low birth weight) plays a major role in the explanation of educational attainment once parental income and education are controlled for.