Child Health and the Income Gradient: Evidence from China

Yi Chen (), Xiaoyan Lei () and Li-An Zhou
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Yi Chen: University of California, Los Angeles
Xiaoyan Lei: Peking University

No 5182, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Though the positive income gradient of child health is well documented in developed countries, evidence from developing countries is rare. Few studies attempt to identify a causal link between family income and child health. Utilizing unique longitudinal data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, we have found a positive, age-enhancing income gradient of child health, measured by height-for-age z scores. The gradient is robust to alternative specifications and a comprehensive set of controls. Using the fact that the rural tax reform implemented since 2000 created an exogenous variation in family income across regions and over time, we explore a causal explanation for the income gradient, and find that it has a very strong independent causal effect on child health.

Keywords: child health; income gradient; rural tax reform (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I12 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39 pages
Date: 2010-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-hea and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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