Macroeconomic conditions, health and mortality
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Christopher J Ruhm, Jefferson-Pilot Excellence Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Although health is conventionally believed to deteriorate during macroeconomic downturns,
the empirical evidence supporting this view is quite weak and comes from studies
containing methodological shortcomings that are difficult to remedy.Recent research that
better controls for many sources of omitted variables bias instead suggests that mortality
decreases and physical health improves when the economy temporarily weakens. This partially
reflects reductions in external sources of death, such as traffic fatalities and other
accidents, but changes in lifestyles and health behaviour are also likely to play a role. This
chapter summarizes our current understanding of how health is affected by macroeconomic
fluctuations and describes potential mechanisms for the effects.
Macroeconomic conditions, health and mortality
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Created on 2/16/2011
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Additional Information
- Publication
- National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series, Dec. 2004, No. 11007
- Language: English
- Date: 2004
- Keywords
- Economics, Fitness, Health and wellness, Recession, Economic downturn