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Abstract
Many studies indicate that human height is determined largely by childhood circumstances, which in turn influences an adult's labor market opportunities. The aim of this note is to test this thesis by examining the correlation between childhood circumstances and labor market outcomes on the one hand, and heights on the other, when networks are included as proxied by surnames. The fact that, after the inclusion of this surname proxy, we find a correlation only between height and labor market outcomes suggests that while childhood circumstances affect height largely via social status and networks as captured by surnames, the same does not apply for labor market outcomes.
JEL Classifications:
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Mark Kattenberg for providing computational assistance.
Notes
1. One may argue that social status and networks are the same, the former serving to valorize the latter. After all, social status as such cannot affect well-being unless it is validated by a social network. The simple fact that one is an aristocrat is meaningless when removed from the context of family, friends, and acquaintances.
2. In this literature, childhood circumstances are called ‘socio-economic consequences’ while labor market opportunities are called the ‘functional consequences’ of height (Steckel Citation1995).
3. The close relation between networks and height has been demonstrated (e.g., Komlos Citation1990, Citation1994). Among researchers in this field, there is a consensus that after controlling for socio-economic factors such as parents’ education, height differences across occupations persist (e.g., Lantzsch and Schuster Citation2009). In other words, social networks seem to have a greater impact on childhood circumstances than on subsequent labor market outcomes.
4. For information on education, see Case and Paxon (Citation2008); on informal recruitment, Pellizzari (Citation2010); and on discrimination, Fryer, Jr., and Levitt (Citation2004), Bertrand and Mullainathan (Citation2004), and Foster (Citation2008).
5. Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, other (including non-religious), unknown.
6. Amboinees, Balinees, Boeginees, Chinese, Javanese, Madoerees, Maleier, Manadonees, Papoeanees, Sangirees, Soendanees, Timorees, Toradjanees, and other.
7. West Java, Central Java, East Java, Amboina, Aceh, Bali and Lombok, Bali, Bengkulu, Belitung, South Sulawesi, Jambi, Indragiri, Lampung, Manado (North Sulawesi), New Guinea, East Sumatra, Palembang, Riau, Tapanuli, Ternate, Timor, West Kalimantan, West Sumatra, (South)east Kalimantan, Madura, Batavia, and Nusa Tenggara.
8. Vervolgschool, Ambonse school, Hollands-Inlandsche school (HIS), Inlandsche school, Maleische school, volksschool/desa school, zendingsschool, ambachtsschool, arabische school, Ardjoena school, middelbaar onderwijs (including MULO), Chinese school, Europees Lager Onderwijs, Korpsschool, schakelschool, no education.
9. Agriculture, industry, trade, other services, labor, coolie, day laborer, djongo, no occupation, and unknown.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Wolter Hassink
Wolter Hassink's research interests include labor market and the firm, sickness absenteeism, and housing markets. His articles have been published in journals such as Journal of Housing Economics, Industrial Relations, and Social Science & Medicine.
Bas van Leeuwen
Bas van Leeuwen's research interests include growth, national accounting, Asia, Europe, market performance, and long-run history. His recent publications are in the following journals: Journal of Eurasian studies, Explorations in Economic History, Economics & Human Biology, De Economist, and Cliometrica.