Implementing a regression discontinuity design to explore the heterogeneous effects of obesity on labour income: the case of Mexico

LEVASSEUR, Pierre

doi:10.1007/s10389-018-0925-5

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LEVASSEUR, Pierre
Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée [GREThA]

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Ce document a été publié dans

Journal of Public Health. 2019, vol. 27, n° 1, p. 89-101

Résumé en anglais

Objective: This study aims to explore within-country heterogeneity in the causal relationship between body mass and labour income. We focus on Mexico, which is an emerging country where overweight is predominant and hunger has become marginal. Subjects and methods: Based on the working-age population from the Mexican Family Life Survey (2002–2012), we use a regression discontinuity design to test for significant discontinuities along the body mass-income relationship. More specifically, we investigate the presence of income gaps along the body mass distribution. Results: Our findings suggest that the overweight status is not particularly penalised in the Mexican labour market. By contrast, the obesity status decreases hourly wages by about 15%. Regarding heterogeneity, obesity-related wage penalties are stronger for female than male employees and higher in service employments, urban areas and the latest survey. Conclusion: We conclude on a co-occurrence of pro- and anti-fat social norms in emerging countries. Our results might be generalised to other middle-income economies with similar nutritional patterns where hunger is marginal and overweight predominant.< Réduire

Mots clés en anglais

Article

Body Mass

Female

Human

Male

Health Survey

Emerging Countries

Employee

Employment

Family Life

Income

Job Market

Labor

Labour Income

Mexico

Nutritional Status

Obesity

Regression Discontinuity Design

Urban Area

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