The Role of Education in Health Behaviors. An IV Study Using the SHARE Data

Abstract: The association between education and health is well documented: more educated individuals live longer and have healthier lives. The incidence of health disparities by education was further accentuated during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the rates of Covid-19 cases and fatalities were higher in communities with less-educated populations. Differences in education, and related differences in health behaviors, might be a mechanism through which these health disparities run. This paper examines the causal effect of education on health behaviors among people over 50 years in Europe using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. I use an instrumental variable approach, exploiting exogenous variation in compulsory education stemming from compulsory schooling reforms in European countries. First, I study the causal effect of education on the probability of smoking, alcohol consumption, engagement in physical activity and having a healthy diet. Second, I examine the effect of education on three Covid-19 related health behaviors: washing hands, using of facemask and preferences to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The results indicate that one additional year of education decreases alcohol consumption and the likelihood of having ever smoked. These negative effects of education seem to be driven by women. In contrast, one more year of education has a negative effect on the consumption of fruits and vegetables and no significant effect on physical activity and Covid-19 related health behaviors.