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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 () (Free University Amsterdam, IFAU Uppsala, CEPR, IFS, Netspar and IZA Bonn)
Maarten Lindeboom () (Free University Amsterdam, HEB Bergen, Netspar and IZA Bonn)
France Portrait () (Free University 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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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 2358.

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Length: 48 pages
Date of creation: Oct 2006
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Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2358

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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
I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped
J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
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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