Health Benefits of Education: Comparative Evidence from Vietnam and Thailand

Abstract

Understanding the health benefits of education is vital in setting policy priorities, especially in lower-income countries. Using the instrumental variable with panel data estimation approach, this study utilizes data from the Thailand Vietnam Socio Economic Panel to provide comparative evidence of the health benefits of education in two countries. The findings indicate that highly educated people are likely to report better current health status, reduced probability of having serious diseases in both countries, increased body mass index (BMI) in Vietnam and decreased BMI in Thailand. Additionally, the benefits of education on health are significant among Vietnamese men, Thai women, and Vietnamese ethnic minorities. The results also suggest that the positive effect of education on health can be explained by higher household income. Thus, promoting education among vulnerable groups, including women and ethnic minorities, should be particularly prioritized to mitigate the gaps in health inequities.