Obesity and Household Financial Distress
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Obesity provides a potentially informative signal about individuals' choices and preferences. Using NLSY survey data, we estimate that debt delinquency is 20 percent higher among the obese than the non-obese after controlling for an extensive set of financial and economic credit risk factors. The economic significance of obesity for delinquencies is comparable to that of job displacements. Obesity is particularly informative about delinquencies among those with low credit risk. In terms of channels, we find that the conditional obesity effect is partially mediated through health, but is not attributable to individuals' attitudes, time and risk preferences, or cognitive skills.
Source: Critical Finance Review
DOI: 10.1561/104.00000034
Authors: Katherine Guthrie, Jan Sokolowsky
Institution: William & Mary
Language: English
Subfield: Accounting
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3125760116