title: Child height, health and human capital: Evidence using genetic markers.
abstract: Height has long been recognized as being associated with better outcomes: the question is whether this association is causal. We use children's genetic variants as instrumental variables to deal with possible unobserved confounders and examine the effect of child/adolescent height on a wide range of outcomes: academic performance, IQ, self-esteem, depression symptoms and behavioral problems. OLS findings show that taller children have higher IQ, perform better in school, and are less likely to have behavioral problems. The IV results differ: taller girls (but not boys) have better cognitive performance and, in contrast to the OLS, greater height appears to increase behavioral problems.
authors: Department of Economics and Related Studies, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK ; CMPO, University of Bristol, 2 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TX, UK.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: von Hinke Kessler Scholder
authors: MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology (CAiTE), School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Davey Smith
authors: MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology (CAiTE), School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
authors: Debbie A
authors: DA
authors: Lawlor
authors: CMPO and Department of Economics, University of Bristol, 2 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TX, UK ; Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Propper
authors: CMPO and Department of Economics, University of Bristol, 2 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TX, UK ; Centre for Microdata, Methods and Practice, UK.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Windmeijer
keywords: Child height; Genetic variants; Human capital; Instrumental variables; Mendelian randomization