Working Paper: NBER ID: w9357
Authors: Ulf Gerdtham; Christopher J. Ruhm
Abstract: This study uses aggregate data for 23 OECD countries over the 1960-1997 period to examine the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and fatalities. The main finding is that total mortality and deaths from several common causes increase when labor markets strengthen. For instance, controlling for year effects, location fixed effects, country-specific time trends and demographic characteristics, a one percentage point decrease in the national unemployment rate is associated with a 0.4 percent rise in total mortality and 0.4, 1.1, 1.8, 2.1 and 0.8 percent increases in deaths from cardiovascular disease, influenza/pneumonia, liver disease, motor vehicle fatalities and other accidents. These results are consistent with the findings of other recent research and cast doubt on the hypothesis that economic downturns have negative effects on physical health.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: E32; J2; I12
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Increasing total mortality rates (J11) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Increasing deaths from cardiovascular disease (I12) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Increasing deaths from influenza/pneumonia (I12) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Increasing deaths from liver disease (I12) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Increasing motor vehicle fatalities (R48) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Increasing other accidents (R41) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Decreasing suicides (I12) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | Decreasing homicides (R23) |
| Decreasing unemployment rates (J68) | No effect on deaths from cancer (I12) |