Premium
Height–income association in developing countries: Evidence from 14 countries
Author(s) -
Patel Pankaj C.,
Devaraj Srikant
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23093
Subject(s) - quantile regression , developing country , demography , economics , demographic economics , endowment , developed country , instrumental variable , econometrics , population , economic growth , philosophy , epistemology , sociology
Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess whether the height–income association is positive in developing countries, and whether income differences between shorter and taller individuals in developing countries are explained by differences in endowment (ie, taller individuals have a higher income than shorter individuals because of characteristics such as better social skills) or due to discrimination (ie, shorter individuals have a lower income despite having comparable characteristics). Methods Instrumental variable regression, Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition, quantile regression, and quantile decomposition analyses were applied to a sample of 45 108 respondents from 14 developing countries represented in the Research on Early Life and Aging Trends and Effects (RELATE) study. Results For a one‐centimeter increase in country‐ and sex‐adjusted median height, real income adjusted for purchasing power parity increased by 1.37%. The income differential between shorter and taller individuals was explained by discrimination and not by differences in endowments; however, the effect of discrimination decreased at higher values of country‐ and sex‐adjusted height. Conclusions Taller individuals in developing countries may realize higher income despite having characteristics similar to those of shorter individuals.