Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/328230 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 18100
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Using nationally representative data from India, this study estimates the effect of calorie intake on wages. To account for endogeneity and heterogeneity, we apply Instrumental Variable and Instrumental Variable Quantile Regression methods. Results suggest that higher calorie consumption positively affects workers' wages. A 10% increase in per capita calorie intake per day leads to a 2.5% increase in daily wages. The wage effect varies by occupation type and across the wage distribution; the marginal effect of calorie intake on wage is higher at lower quantiles of the wage distribution and for non-elementary workers. Our findings highlight the need for nutritional supplementation, particularly for workers at low and median wage levels, to maximize the wage gains from nutritional public policies.
Subjects: 
wages
calorie
2SLS
instrumental variable quantile regression
India
JEL: 
I14
I15
J24
J31
O15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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