Working Paper: NBER ID: w19274
Authors: Kerry Anne McGeary
Abstract: Previous research studying the correlation in smoking behavior between spouses has discounted the role of bargaining or learning. Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which contains information on smoking cessation and spouse's preferences, this paper presents an essential investigation of the importance of spousal bargaining or learning on the decision to cease smoking. We find, regardless of gender, when one member of couple ceases smoking this induces the other member to cease smoking through bargaining. Further, we find females demonstrate either altruistic behavior toward a spouse, who has suffered a health shock, or learning from their spouse's health shock.
Keywords: smoking cessation; spousal influence; bargaining; learning; altruism
JEL Codes: I12; I18; J12
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Spousal health declines (J12) | Smoking cessation (I12) |
| Spousal smoking cessation (J12) | Smoking cessation (I12) |
| Health shocks (I12) | Smoking cessation (I12) |
| Spousal health shocks (I12) | Smoking cessation (I12) |
| Learning about health risks (I10) | Smoking cessation (I12) |
| Altruistic motivations (D64) | Smoking cessation (I12) |
| Bargaining effect (C79) | Smoking cessation (I12) |