Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 2026-08-02
Number: 26-049/V
Author-Name: Fabrice Kampfen
Author-Workplace-Name: University College Dublin
Author-Name: Owen O'Donnell
Author-Workplace-Name: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Author-Name: Xuezheng Qin
Author-Workplace-Name: Peking University
Title: Family Health Spillovers: A Multidimensional Regression Discontinuity Design
Abstract: A multidimensional regression discontinuity design reveals large and asymmetric spillovers from personalized health information within Chinese families. Warning a man that he has high blood pressure (BP) is estimated to reduce his wife’s BP by
7.5% and her probability of high BP by 24% points, while there is no female-to male spillover. Warning a parent (father, particularly) reduces their adult child’s BP. Identified mechanisms are reduced adiposity (spousal) and healthier behavior (intergenerational). Asymmetry can be explained by joint health production under collective but gender-unequal household decision making. We demonstrate screening even for non-communicable disease risk can generate positive spillovers.
Classification-JEL: C21, I12, I15
Keywords: Health behavior, Peer effects, Information, Collective household, Screening
File-URL: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/26049.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 2.471.913 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20260049