Examining the relationship between education and health. The linkt with time discounting.

Abstract

This study aims to make an innovative contribution to the existing literature on the relationship between education and health. The possible underlying mechanism of this relationship, time discounting, is examined. Using the ‘Households in the Netherlands 1995’ survey it is investigated if time discounting can partly account for the relationship between education and health. It was found that no association exists between time discounting and health and time discounting and education. However, education and health, as the literature suggests, are significantly associated. Partial correlations including the controlling variables age and gender showed a few minor changes in the association between education and health. A model including time discounting did not show any significant changes in the association.