Working Paper: NBER ID: w22849
Authors: Justin R. Pierce; Peter K. Schott
Abstract: We investigate the impact of a large economic shock on mortality. We find that counties more exposed to a plausibly exogenous trade liberalization exhibit higher rates of suicide and related causes of death, concentrated among whites, especially white males. These trends are consistent with our finding that more-exposed counties experience relative declines in manufacturing employment, a sector in which whites and males are disproportionately employed. We also examine other causes of death that might be related to labor market disruption and find both positive and negative relationships. More-exposed counties, for example, exhibit lower rates of fatal heart attacks.
Keywords: Trade Liberalization; Mortality; US Counties; Economic Shock
JEL Codes: F1; F13; F16; I1; I18; J08; J21; J6
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Exposure to PNTR (F13) | Increase in suicide rates (I12) |
| Exposure to PNTR (F13) | Increase in mortality from accidental poisoning (I12) |
| Higher NTR gaps (F12) | Increase in unemployment rates (F66) |
| Higher NTR gaps (F12) | Declines in manufacturing employment (O14) |
| Increase in unemployment rates (F66) | Labor market disruption (J63) |
| Increase in suicide rates among whites (I12) | Higher employment in manufacturing (L69) |