TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Halla, Martin
AU  - Liu, Chia-Lun
AU  - Liu, Jin-Tan
        TI  - The Effect of Superstition on Health: Evidence from the Taiwanese Ghost Month
        PY  - 2019/Jan/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 12066
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp12066
        AB  - Superstition is a widespread phenomenon. We empirically examine its impact on health-related behavior and health outcomes. We study the case of the Taiwanese Ghost month. During this period, which is believed to increase the likelihood of bad outcomes, we observe substantial adaptions in health-related behavior. Our identification exploits idiosyncratic variation in the timing of the Ghost Month across Gregorian calendar years. Using high-quality administrative data, we document for the period of the Ghost Months reductions in mortality, hospital admissions, and births. While the effect on mortality is a quantum effect, the latter two effects reflect changes in the timing of events. Efficient public health policy should account for emotional and cultural factors.
        KW  - superstition
KW  - false beliefs
KW  - health
KW  - risky activities
KW  - health-care utilization
KW  - mortality
KW  - fertility
KW  - birth outcomes
        ER  -