Economic growth and height of youth: a panel data analysis on 27 provinces in China, 1985–2014

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to empirically examine the influence of China’s macroeconomic development on the height of Chinese youth in the past 30 years, using provincial panel data collected from more than one million children. Methods: Panel data from seven longitudinal surveys (1985, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2014) of the Chinese National Surveys on Students’ Constitution and Health, including students aged 7–22 years from 27 provinces, were utilized for data analysis. Fixed-effects models were used to estimate the association between economic growth and height. Results: For every 1% increase in per capita disposable income (PCDI), the average height of students significantly increased by approximately 0.009%. Stated another way, this implies that a doubling of income is associated with 0.9% increase in height, which is significant for height. The coefficient of PCDI in the last decade is higher than that of in the early two decades. The average height of boys was approximately 3.9% higher than that of girls. The average height difference between high and low ages in the sample was 1.9%. The impact of policies on students' height was extremely small and may have little practical significance. Conclusion: China’s economic growth has a significant positive effect on the height of urban Chinese students without stagnation.