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The Educational Gradient in Health in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2017

Qiulin Chen ,
Karen Eggleston ,
Wei Zhang ,
Jiaying Zhao  and
Sen Zhou
Qiulin Chen
Affiliation:
China Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing.
Karen Eggleston*
Affiliation:
Stanford University Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, and National Bureau of Economic Research.
Wei Zhang
Affiliation:
Tsinghua University School of Marxism, Beijing.
Jiaying Zhao
Affiliation:
The Australian National University, and Shanghai University.
Sen Zhou
Affiliation:
Stanford University Graduate School of Education.
*
Email: [email protected] (corresponding author).
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Abstract

It has been well established that better educated individuals enjoy better health and longevity. In theory, the educational gradients in health could be flattening if diminishing returns to improved average education levels and the influence of earlier population health interventions outweigh the gradient-steepening effects of new medical and health technologies. This paper documents how the gradients are evolving in China, a rapidly developing country, about which little is known on this topic. Based on recent mortality data and nationally representative health surveys, we find large and, in some cases, steepening educational gradients. We also find that the gradients vary by cohort, gender and region. Further, we find that the gradients can only partially be accounted for by economic factors. These patterns highlight the double disadvantage of those with low education, and suggest the importance of policy interventions that foster both aspects of human capital for them.

摘要

大 量证据表明存在着健康的教育梯度: 教育程度高的人群往往享有更好的健康和更长的寿命。从理论上讲, 平均教育水平的升高、以及对人群实施早期健康干预会减弱 健康的教育梯度; 而另一方面, 医疗技术的进步会加强健康的教育梯度。本文研究健康的教育梯度是如何在中国这个高速发展的国家演变的。目前的文献对此研究不 多。基于近年上海的死亡数据和全国人口健康抽样调查数据, 我们发现, 中国健康的教育梯度在很多情况下有所增强。我们还发现, 健康的教育梯度在不同出生世 代、性别和地区之间存在差异。进一步的研究显示, 经济因素只能部分解释这些梯度的存在。这些研究结果突出了低教育程度人群在教育与健康上所面临的双重劣 势。从上述两方面人力资本进行政策干预显得十分重要。

Keywords

Chinahealtheducationsurvivaldisparities inequality中国健康教育存活差异不平等
Type
Articles
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 230 , June 2017 , pp. 289 - 322
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Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2017 

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