Martin Fischer|Martin Karlsson|Thérèse Nilsson
Effects of Compulsory Schooling on Mortality: Evidence from Sweden
University of Duisburg-Essen|University of Duisburg-Essen|Research Institute of Industrial Economics|Lund University
theoretically several reasons expect education positive effect health empirical research suggests education important health determinant however yet established whether education health indeed causally related effects found previous studies may partially attributable methodological weaknesses moreover existing evidence educationhealth relationship generally uses information fairly recent schooling reforms implying health outcomes observed limited time period paper examines effect education mortality using information national rollout reform leading one extra year compulsory schooling sweden 1936 national government made seventh school year compulsory however implementation decided school district level reform implemented 12 years taking advantage variation timing implementation across school districts using countylevel proportions reformed districts census data administrative mortality data find extra compulsory school year reduced mortality fact mortality reduction discernible already age 30 grows magnitude age 5560