Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/260002 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2011:12
Publisher: 
Lund University, School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Lund
Abstract: 
Using longitudinal data, this paper investigates the penalty for excess weight in the Swedish labor market, distinguishing between the productivity and the discrimination hypotheses. We analyze employment, income, and sickness absence , using the latter as a direct measure of productivity. We find that excess weight women, but not men, experience a significant employment penalty. Both genders experience a significant income penalty for obesity. We conclude that the penalties are associated with lower productivity, primarily in terms of health. We find no evidence of discrimination.
Subjects: 
Employment
income
sickness absence
obesity
overweight
JEL: 
I10
I12
J23
J31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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