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Conjugal Bereavement Effects on Health and Mortality at Advanced Ages

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Author Info
Gerard J. van den Berg () (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Maarten Lindeboom () (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
France Portrait () (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

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Abstract

We specify a model for the lifetimes of spouses and the dynamic evolution of health, allowing spousal death to have causal effects on the health and mortality of the survivor. We estimate the model using a longitudinal survey that traces many health status aspects over time, and that is linked to register data on the vital status of the individuals. The model takes account of selectivity in partners' mortality and health evolution. We find strong instantaneous effects of bereavement on mortality and on certain aspects of health. Individuals lose on average 12% of residual life expectancy after bereavement. Bereavement affects the share of healthy years in residual lifetime, primarily because healthy years are replaced by years with chronic diseases.

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Paper provided by Tinbergen Institute in its series Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers with number 07-009/3.

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Date of creation: 17 Jan 2007
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20070009

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Web page: http://www.tinbergen.nl/

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Related research
Keywords: death; longevity; health care; disease; life expectancy; elderly couples; impairment;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Production
C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Norton, Edward C., 2000. "Long-term care," Handbook of Health Economics, in: A. J. Culyer & J. P. Newhouse (ed.), Handbook of Health Economics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 17, pages 955-994 Elsevier. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Darius Lakdawalla & Tomas Philipson, 2002. "The Rise in Old-Age Longevity and the Market for Long-Term Care," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(1), pages 295-306, March. [Downloadable!]
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  3. Jaap H. Abbring & Gerard J. van den Berg, 2003. "The Nonparametric Identification of Treatment Effects in Duration Models," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(5), pages 1491-1517, 09. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Orazio Attanasio & Carl Emmerson, 2001. "Differential mortality in the UK," IFS Working Papers W01/16, Institute for Fiscal Studies. [Downloadable!]
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