Returns to beauty over the life course

This paper analyzes returns to facial beauty over the life course with respect to four outcomes: Socioeconomic status (SES), marital success, spouse’s SES, and health. I use data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study which, based on high school yearbook photos, has collected data on respondents’ facial attractiveness as well as data on SES, marital, and health outcomes from their mid-20s to their mid-60s. I find that beauty has lasting positive returns for women since more beautiful women have higher SES throughout their working life, have a higher probability of being married at age 25, and marry high-SES husbands. I find no effects of beauty on health and, in general, no returns to beauty for men.