Intergenerational Transmission of Health: Evidence from Selected Districts of Pakistan

Abstract

The concept of intergenerational mobility has considerable economic implications for a family and society as well because sufficiently large intergenerational transmissions reflect inequality of opportunities. Intergenerational mobility has different attributes and intergenerational health transmission is a comparatively new area of research for the economists. This paper attempts to measure intergenerational health transmissions in Pakistan. The study uses field survey data of 2000 households, 1000 each from two generations to calculate intergenerational health transmissions from districts/cities of Islamabad, Karachi, Sukhar, Lahore, Vehari, Rajanpur, Peshawar and Quetta. This study examines the relationship between parental health and offspring health as well as the relationship between parental income and education and the health of children. The results establish strong intergenerational health transmissions in Pakistan.