Beauty and Wages: The Effect of Physical Attractiveness on Income Using Longitudinal Data

This paper focuses on the effect physical attractiveness has on an individual\u27s yearly income. Unlike previous studies on beauty and the labor market, this study employs longitudinal data obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health, 1994-2008), which contains interviewers\u27 ratings of the respondent\u27s physical attractiveness and personality attractiveness. This data is used to regress yearly income on a variety of variables that can also influence an individual\u27s income, such as gender, age, race, BMI, personality attractiveness, education, and physical health. These factors are used to adjust for the income differentials related to looks. Results confirmed that physical attractiveness correlates positively with yearly income, although, surprisingly, the least attractive exhibited the highest yearly incomes. Larger incomes are also associated with maleness, Caucasian race, higher ages, greater personality attractiveness ratings, more education, and good physical health