RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Height and Earnings: The Role of Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 141
OP 166
DO 10.3368/jhr.49.1.141
VO 49
IS 1
A1 Petter Lundborg
A1 Paul Nystedt
A1 Dan-Olof Rooth
YR 2014
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/49/1/141.abstract
AB We use large-scale register data on 450,000 Swedish males who underwent mandatory military enlistment at age 18, and a subsample of 150,000 siblings, to examine why tall people earn more. We show the importance of both cognitive and noncognitive skills, as well as family background and muscular strength for the height-earnings relationship. In addition, we show that a substantial height premium remains after these factors have been accounted for, which originates from very short people having low earnings. This is mostly explained by the sorting of short people into low-paid occupations, which may indicate discrimination by stature.