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The Relationship between Stature and Insolation: Evidence from Soldiers and Prisoners

I. Introduction

The use of height data to measure living standards is now a well-established
method in economics (Fogel, 1994, p. 138; Steckel, 1995; Steckel, 2009; Deaton, 2008;
Case and Paxson, 2008). A populations' average stature reflects the cumulative
interaction between nutrition, disease exposure, work, and the physical environment
(Steckel, 1979, pp. 365-367; Tanner, 1962, pp. 1-27). By considering average versus
individual stature, genetic differences are mitigated, leaving only economic and physical
environment’s relationship with stature. When diets, health, and physical environments
improve, average stature increases and decreases when diets become less nutritious,
disease environments deteriorate, or the physical environment places more stress on the
body. Therefore, when traditional measures are unavailable, stature provides
considerable insights into understanding historical processes.

Numerous studies consider 19^th century US white stature variation, and a few
patterns are now clear. Among the first unexpected findings was that while wages
increased throughout the 19^th century, white statures ironically declined (Table 1; Komos,
1987; Margo and Steckel, 1983; Costa, 1993). Other studies show that a broad set of
explanatory variables were associated with 19^th century stature variation. Better nutrition
corresponds with taller average statures (Komlos, 1987; Haines, Craig, and Weiss, 2003).
Exposure to disease and physically rigorous work regimens are associated with shorter

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