Family income and child health in the UK

Pré-publication, Document de travail: Recent studies examining the relationship between family income and child health in the UK have produced mixed findings. We re-examine the income gradient in child general health and its evolution with child age in this country, using a very large sample of British children. We find that there is no correlation between income and child general health at ages 0-1, that the gradient emerges around age 2 and is constant from age 2 to age 17. In addition, we show that the gradient remains large and significant when we try to address the endogeneity of income. Furthermore, our results indicate that the gradient in general health reflects a greater prevalence of chronic conditions among lowincome children and a greater severity of these conditions. Taken together, these findings suggest that income does matter for child health in the UK and may play a role in the intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic status.

Auteur(s)

Bénédicte Apouey, Pierre-Yves Geoffard

Date de publication
  • 2013
Mots-clés JEL
I1
Mots-clés
  • Child health
  • Family income
  • Gradient
Référence interne
  • PSE Working Papers n°2013-03
Version
  • 1