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Inequality in Mortality between Black and White Americans by Age, Place, and Cause, and in Comparison to Europe, 1990-2018

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Listed:
  • Schwandt, Hannes
  • Currie, Janet
  • Bär, Marlies
  • Banks, James
  • Bertoli, Paola
  • Cattan, Sarah
  • Chao, Beatrice
  • Costa, Claudia
  • Gonzalez, Libertad
  • Gremvu, Veronica
  • Huttunen, Kristiina
  • Karadakic, René
  • Kraftman, Lucy
  • Krutikova, Sonya
  • Lombardi, Stefano
  • Redler, Peter
  • Riumallo-Herl, Carlos
  • Rodríguez-González, Ana
  • Salvanes, Kjell G
  • Santana, Paula
  • Thuilliez, Josselin
  • Van Doorslaer, Eddy
  • Van Ourti, Tom
  • Winter, Joachim
  • Wouterse, Bram
  • Wuppermann, Amelie

Abstract

Although there is a large gap between Black and White American life expectancies, the gap fell 48.9% between 1990-2018, mainly due to mortality declines among Black Americans. We examine age-specific mortality trends and racial gaps in life expectancy in rich and poor U.S. areas and with reference to six European countries. Inequalities in life expectancy are starker in the U.S. than in Europe. In 1990 White Americans and Europeans in rich areas had similar overall life expectancy, while life expectancy for White Americans in poor areas was lower. But since then even rich White Americans have lost ground relative to Europeans. Meanwhile, the gap in life expectancy between Black Americans and Europeans decreased by 8.3%. Black life expectancy increased more than White life expectancy in all U.S. areas, but improvements in poorer areas had the greatest impact on the racial life expectancy gap. The causes that contributed the most to Black mortality reductions included: Cancer, homicide, HIV, and causes originating in the fetal or infant period. Life expectancy for both Black and White Americans plateaued or slightly declined after 2012, but this stalling was most evident among Black Americans even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. If improvements had continued at the 1990-2012 rate, the racial gap in life expectancy would have closed by 2036. European life expectancy also stalled after 2014. Still, the comparison with Europe suggests that mortality rates of both Black and White Americans could fall much further across all ages and in both rich and poor areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Schwandt, Hannes & Currie, Janet & Bär, Marlies & Banks, James & Bertoli, Paola & Cattan, Sarah & Chao, Beatrice & Costa, Claudia & Gonzalez, Libertad & Gremvu, Veronica & Huttunen, Kristiina & Karad, 2021. "Inequality in Mortality between Black and White Americans by Age, Place, and Cause, and in Comparison to Europe, 1990-2018," CEPR Discussion Papers 16589, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barry P. Bosworth & Kan Zhang, 2015. "Evidence of Increasing Differential Mortality: A Comparison of the HRS and SIPP," Working Papers, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wp2015-13, Center for Retirement Research.
    2. Anne Case & Angua Deaton, 2015. "Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century," Working Papers 15078.full.pdf, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Research Program in Development Studies..
    3. Anne Case & Angus Deaton, 2021. "Life expectancy in adulthood is falling for those without a BA degree, but as educational gaps have widened, racial gaps have narrowed," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(11), pages 2024777118-, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Breen, Casey & Seltzer, Nathan, 2023. "The Unpredictability of Individual-Level Longevity," SocArXiv znsqg, Center for Open Science.
    2. Breen, Casey & Goldstein, Joshua R., 2022. "Berkeley Unified Numident Mortality Database: Public Administrative Records for Individual-Level Mortality Research," SocArXiv pc294, Center for Open Science.
    3. Janjala Chirakijja & Seema Jayachandran & Pinchuan Ong, 2023. "The Mortality Effects of Winter Heating Prices," Working Papers 305, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..

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    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality

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