Education Has More Impact Than Income
Education is the driving force behind the global increase in life years. It is more important for life expectancy than per capita income.
Life expectancy increases with income, but that’s only half the story. Current analyzes show that education is more important for longevity than income. This emerges from a publication by the Vienna “Wittgenstein Center for Demography and Global Human Capital”.
According to this, since a much-cited study from 1975 by Samuel Preston, it has een repeatedly claimed that life expectancy increases where the economy is going uphill. That’s right, as per capita income increases, life expectancy increases – initially steeply and then flattening out.
In a study, the researchers at the Wittgenstein Center have now presented current data from 174 developing and industrialized countries from the years 1970, 1990 and 2010, which show that the middle school years are also decisive for the life expectancy. The effect of schooling remains – unlike that of income – almost constant at a high level.
It makes a difference whether the schooling is nine or ten years. Whether a high income continues to grow, on the other hand, only has a very small effect on life expectancy.
Income is a consequence of education
The scientists conclude from their analyzes that income is not the main reason for the increased life expectancy, but rather a consequence of higher education. Those who go to school for many years will have both a higher income and a longer life expectancy.
Seen globally, the increase in the level of education over the past 50 years has clearly been the key factor for improved health – and not, as is often claimed, higher income. A possible explanation for this is that higher education often leads to behaviors and lifestyles that have a positive impact on health, according to the researchers.
According to the scientists, the findings of the new study should be taken into account in politics in the future – for example when it comes to where funds for improved health can best be used.
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