Working Paper: NBER ID: w24623
Authors: Janet Currie; Hannes Schwandt; Josselin Thuilliez
Abstract: We develop a method to compare levels and trends in inequality in mortality in the United States and France in a similar framework. The comparison shows that while income inequality has increased in both the United States and France, inequality in mortality in France remained remarkably low and stable. In the United States, inequality in mortality increased for older groups (especially women) while it decreased for children and young adults. These patterns highlight the fact that despite the strong cross-sectional relationship between income and health, there is no necessary connection between changes in income inequality and changes in health inequality.
Keywords: mortality inequality; health disparities; public policy; France; United States
JEL Codes: I14; J1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| income inequality (D31) | mortality inequality (France) (I14) |
| healthcare system and public health policies (France) (H51) | mortality inequality (France) (I14) |
| income inequality (D31) | mortality inequality (United States) (I14) |
| public health interventions (I14) | mortality inequality (children and young adults, United States) (I14) |
| deaths due to accidents (J28) | mortality gap (younger populations) (J11) |
| healthcare quality (I11) | mortality outcomes (I12) |