In the context of Sweden, we show that having a doctor in the family raises preventive health investments throughout the lifecycle, improves physical health, and prolongs life. Two quasi-experimental research designs—medical school admissions lotteries and variation in the timing of medical degrees—support a causal interpretation of these effects. A hypothetical policy that would bring the same health behavior changes and benefits to all Swedes would close 18 percent of the mortality-income gradient. Our results suggest that socioeconomic differences in exposure to health-related expertise may meaningfully contribute to health inequality.
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
The Roots of Health Inequality and the Value of Intrafamily Expertise
Journal Article
Reference
Chen, Yiqun, Petra Persson and Maria Polyakova (2022). “The Roots of Health Inequality and the Value of Intrafamily Expertise”. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 14(3), 185–223.
Chen, Yiqun, Petra Persson and Maria Polyakova (2022). “The Roots of Health Inequality and the Value of Intrafamily Expertise”. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 14(3), 185–223.
Authors
Yiqun Chen,
Petra Persson, Maria Polyakova