Education advocates regularly cite findings that have consistently shown education being correlated with greater income. However, this finding also extends into individual health. Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) note those with greater education and wealth tend to live longer than those lacking education and material resources.

Since education is related to higher income, it is fairly intuitive to see how the two may have buffering effects to earlier mortality and protecting health. But these factors protect health in different ways. The NBER demonstrated that education allows individuals to better use health care information and services to their benefit. Additionally, those more highly-educated with greater income also receive health protecting benefits of money that include better quality of life overall and a lifestyle of lower stress.

But the benefits of greater income on health disappear when there is a lack of education. Higher average income alone can actually have a negative effect on health protectiveness and mortality in some cases. This suggests money alone may not ensure health and a longer life. However, income and education can.

Additionally, when other demographic factors related to unequal incomes were controlled, income had no effect on mortality rates, which further shows that money does not work by itself to improve health.

The Center for American Progress has also shown the important effect of education and income on health on an even larger scale by drawing connections between lowering the long-term effects of poverty on crime, health care, and the economy. As poor children are more likely to continue to be poor as adults, they may commit more crimes, work lower paying jobs, and generate more costs to the healthcare system. With that in mind, improvements in childhood education as early as pre-kindergarten has been shown to benefit academic performance, which has its positive effects on income, and in turn health.

As consumers concerned about financial health, efforts toward increased education throughout your lifetime can help achieve long-term prosperity that can make life easier. But considering that more money does not necessarily improve your life overall, the money you earn coupled with your continued knowledge will ensure you will be physically healthy enough to obtain the long-term prosperity you seek.

References

Center for American Progress. Hearing on the Economic and Societal Costs of Poverty: testimony of Harry J. Holzer.

Angus Deaton. National Bureau of Economic Research Reporter Research Summary: Health, Income, and Inequality.