The effect of compulsory schooling on health—evidence from biomarkers

Using data from the Health Survey for England and the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing, we estimate causal effects of schooling on health. Our study complements earlier studies exploiting two nationwide increases in British compulsory school leaving age in 1947 and 1973, respectively, by using biological stress markers as measures of health outcomes in addition to self-reported measures. We find a strong positive correlation between education and health, both self-rated and measured by blood fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels. However, causal effects estimates based on compulsory schooling changes are ambiguous and remain statistically insignificant. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2013