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Investigating the Persistence of Suicide in the United States: Evidence from the Quantile Unit Root Test

Author

Listed:
  • Wen-Yi Chen

    (National Taichung University of Science and Technology)

  • Tsangyao Chang

    (Feng Chia University)

  • Yu-Hui Lin

    (NanKai University of Technology)

Abstract

While the subsequent persistence of suicide after an economic shock has received much attention among economists, no study has investigated the persistence of suicide through the concept of persistence in macroeconomic theory. This study employed the quantile structural breaks tests to identify possible structural changes in various suicide rates under the framework of the repeat cross-sectional quantile regression model in the US over the period from January 1999 to December 2013 for the first time. Together with the QAR-based unit root test, we found that positive shocks have significant impacts on various suicide rates, and the persistence of suicide was confirmed for all suicide rates in some pre-specified quantiles except for the suicide rate of the middle age (aged 35–54) group. Specifically, the persistence of suicide was identified in the lower quantiles for the overall suicide rate and the suicide rate of the middle-old age (aged 55–64) group. There exists persistence of suicide in the two tails of quantiles for the suicide rates of the young (aged 15–34) and the elderly (aged 65 and older) groups. The surveillance system established for suicide prevention should target the middle-old age (aged 55–64) group during economic downturn periods and target the young (aged 15–34) and the elderly (aged 65 or older) groups during periods from economic downturns to recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen-Yi Chen & Tsangyao Chang & Yu-Hui Lin, 2018. "Investigating the Persistence of Suicide in the United States: Evidence from the Quantile Unit Root Test," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 813-833, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:135:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11205-016-1492-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1492-1
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    3. Mitch Kunce, 2022. "A 'Natural' Suicide Rate, Hysteresis or Suicide Persistence? Evidence from U.S. State-Level Panel Data, 1980-2020," Journal of Statistical and Econometric Methods, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 11(2), pages 1-2.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Persistence; Suicide; Quantile unit root; Quantile structural change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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