The health knowledge mechanism: evidence on the link between education and health lifestyle in the Philippines.

ABSTRACT: Studies have found substantial differences in health-related behavior and health care usage between educational groups, which may explain part of the well-documented educational gradient in health. The allocative efficiency hypothesis offers a behavioral explanation for these reported differences. According to this theory, the educated possess more health knowledge and information, allowing them to make better health choices. We perform a mediation analysis to study this mechanism using original survey data from the Philippines, a lower-middle-income country. As an extension of previous empirical research, we construct a comprehensive index that captures different dimensions of health knowledge. Using generalized propensity scores, we find strong support for the allocative efficiency argum

SUBMITTER: Hoffmann R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6394601 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature