What Explains Differences in Smoking, Drinking and Other Health-Related Behaviors?

TitleWhat Explains Differences in Smoking, Drinking and Other Health-Related Behaviors?
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsCutler, DM, Glaser, E
Series TitleNBER Working Paper
Document Number11100
InstitutionNational Bureau of Economic Research
CityCambridge, MA
Call Numberwp_2005/SmokingDrinking.pdf
KeywordsHealth Conditions and Status
Abstract

We explore economic model of health behaviors. While the standard economic model of health as an investment is generally supported empirically, the ability of this model to explain heterogeneity across individuals is extremely limited. Most prominently, the correlation of different health behaviors across people is virtually zero, suggest that standard factors such as variation in discount rates or the value of life are not the drivers of behavior. We focus instead on two other factors: genetics; and behavioral-specific situational factors. The first factor is empirically important, and we suspect the second is as well.

DOI10.3386/w11100
Endnote Keywords

Health Behaviors/Drinking Behavior/Smoking

Endnote ID

14262

Citation Key5622