Tattoos, lifestyle, and the labor market

In this study, we look at the factors determining the decision to get a tattoo and relate this to several outcome measures, such as income, employment status, and health. The analyses are based on unique panel data of a representative sample of Dutch individuals. The tattooed population differs significantly from the non‐tattooed population on a wide range of characteristics. We use fixed effects and instrumental variable analysis to explore the effects of tattoos. Our analyses suggest less favorable outcomes for people with (very visible) tattoos, though especially in the case of the labor market, the relationships are relatively weak.