Research Paper

The effects of daughters on health choices and risk behaviour

By Nattavudh Powdthavee, Stephen Wu and Andrew J. Oswald

Publication details

Publication date
Series or book
University of York Discussion Papers in Economics
Series or chapter number
10/03
Publisher
University of York: Department of Economics and Related Studies
http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/econ/documents/dp/1003.pdf

Abstract

Little is known about why some human beings make risky life-choices. This paper provides evidence that people's health decisions and addictive actions are influenced by the gender of their children. Having a daughter leads individuals -- in micro data from Great Britain and the United States -- to reduce their smoking, drinking, and drug-taking. The paper's results are consistent with the hypothesis that human beings 'self-medicate' when under stress.

Notes

discussion paper

Topics