Ciclo di seminari dipartimentali a.a. 2018/19

Genetics and Health Insurance: How Genes and Insurance Status Affect Smoking Decisions after Health Shocks

Inteviene: Pietro Biroli (UZH - University of Zurich)

ABSTRACT

The determinants of healthy behaviors are complex and multifaceted, and include both
biological factors, such as genetic predispositions, as well as environmental factors, such
as financial liquidity and health insurance status. We show how the choice of smoking
after a serious health shock is jointly determined by the interaction between these
biological and environmental components. We find that genetic predispositions can offset
the financial incentives for smoking cessation. These results suggest that genetic
heterogeneity is a factor that should be considered when evaluating the importance of
health insurance policies.