@TechReport{dp-487,
  author        = {Strulik, Holger},
  astring       = {Holger Strulik},
  title         = {Health and Education: Understanding the Gradient},
  month         = {December},
  year          = {2011},
  pages         = {35},
  size          = {432},
  number        = {487},
  language      = {en},
  keywords      = {Schooling, Aging, Longevity, Health Expenditure, Unhealthy
                  Behavior, Smoking},
  jelclass      = {D91, J17, J26, I12},
  abstract      = {This study presents a novel view on education and health
                  behavior of individuals constrained by aging bodies. The
                  aging process, i.e. the accumulation of health deficits
                  over time, is built on recent insights from gerontology.
                  The loss of body functionality, which eventually leads to
                  death, can be accelerated by unhealthy behavior and delayed
                  through health expenditure. The proposed theory
                  rationalizes why better educated people optimally choose a
                  healthier lifestyle, that is why they spend more on health
                  and indulge less in unhealthy behavior. The model is
                  calibrated for the average male US citizen. In the
                  benchmark case a di erence of the return to education that
                  motivates one year more of education motivates also about 8
                  percent less unhealthy behavior and 5 percent more health
                  expenditure and thus explains half a year gain of
                  longevity. Progress in medical technology explains why the
                  education gradient gets larger over time.}
}