Research Paper University of York Discussion Papers in Economics 10/03

The effects of daughters on health choices and risk behaviour

Authors

Publication date

2010

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.

Subjects

Family Formation And Dissolution, Health, and Social Behaviour

Links

http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/econ/documents/dp/1003.pdf

Notes

discussion paper

#513525