The Relationship between height, schooling, occupation and wages in Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of stature, viewed as a proxy for socioeconomic, demo¬graphic and health conditions, on wages and education in Brazil. We examine the relationship between height and school cycles, on occupation allocation and on the earnings of individuals when in the labor market, separately for men and women. We conclude that height has a positive impact on the probability of completion of the schooling cycles for men and women and on labor market earnings, independently of its effects on occupation and on education. Finally, occupations that require greater ability attract individuals that are, on average, taller. The results as a whole imply that human capital deficiencies during childhood have very important effects over the life cycle so that public investments on health, education, housing and nutrition early on have high returns.