November 2005

IZA DP No. 1835: Health Determinants in Urban China

substantially revised version published as 'Health Demand and Health Determinants in China' in:Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, 2008, 6 (1), 77-98

This paper identifies health determinants in urban China applying Grossman model. Using wave of China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2000, we find that education has important positive effect on health, and cost of health care services has significantly negative impact. However, effects of wage rate and household income are insignificant. We also find that region is an important determinant of health. The body weight is also important, but unlike finding in developed countries, under-weight instead of over-weight is a better predictor for poor health. Our results suggest that male has better health than female does, and married couple has better health in urban China.