Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/29747 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
DIW Discussion Papers No. 871
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
We use newly available data from Germany to study the relationship between parental income and child health. We find a strong gradient between parental income and subjective child health as has been documented earlier in the US, Canada and the UK. The relationship in Germany is about as strong in the US and stronger than in the UK. However, in contrast to US results, we do not find that the disadvantages associated with low parental income accumulate as the child ages, nor that children from low socioeconomic background are more likely to suffer from objectively measured health problems - except for obesity. There is some evidence, however, that high income children are better able to cope with the adverse consequences of chronic conditions. Finally, we do not find that child health (except for low birth weight) plays a major role in the explanation of educational attainment once parental income and education are controlled for.
Subjects: 
Parental income
child health
JEL: 
I12
J13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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