TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ruhm,Christopher J.
TI  - Macroeconomic Conditions, Health and Mortality
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 11007
PY  - 2004
Y2  - December 2004
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w11007
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w11007.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Christopher J. Ruhm
Frank Batten School of
Leadership and Public Policy
University of Virginia
235 McCormick Rd.
P.O. Box 400893
Charlottesville, VA 22904-40893
Tel: 434-243-3729
E-Mail: ruhm@virginia.edu
AB  - 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 behaviors are also likely to play a role. This paper summarizes our current understanding of how health is affected by macroeconomic fluctuations and describes potential mechanisms for the effects.
ER  -