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The debt crisis, austerity measures, and suicide in Greece

Author

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  • Charis E. Kubrin
  • Bradley J. Bartos
  • Richard McCleary

Abstract

Background How are economic downturns and suicide related? Objective This study examines the link between economically driven austerity measures implemented during a recent economic downturn—the Greek debt crisis—and suicide for the population as a whole, as well as for men and women separately. Methods Utilizing a 50‐nation panel containing annual suicide counts and population demographics for the years 1995–2015 from the World Health Organization's Mortality archive, the analysis employs a synthetic control design, a quasi‐experimental approach that allows us to causally model the relationship between Greece's International Monetary Fund‐imposed austerity measures and suicide, something that has hampered prior research efforts. Results Findings show austerity policies corresponded with increased suicide rates in Greece for the population as a whole and for men and women. Robustness tests confirm these results. Conclusions We discuss the implications of the findings for the current economic crisis associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Charis E. Kubrin & Bradley J. Bartos & Richard McCleary, 2022. "The debt crisis, austerity measures, and suicide in Greece," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 103(1), pages 120-140, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:103:y:2022:i:1:p:120-140
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael G. Arghyrou & John D. Tsoukalas, 2011. "The Greek Debt Crisis: Likely Causes, Mechanics and Outcomes," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(2), pages 173-191, February.
    2. Reeves, Aaron & McKee, Martin & Basu, Sanjay & Stuckler, David, 2014. "The political economy of austerity and healthcare: Cross-national analysis of expenditure changes in 27 European nations 1995–2011," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 1-8.
    3. Annamaria Lusardi & Daniel Schneider & Peter Tufano, 2015. "The Economic Crisis and Medical Care Use: Comparative Evidence from Five High-Income Countries," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 96(1), pages 202-213, March.
    4. Kondilis, E. & Giannakopoulos, S. & Gavana, M. & Ierodiakonou, I. & Waitzkin, H. & Benos, A., 2013. "Economic crisis, restrictive policies, and the population's health and health care: The greek case," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(6), pages 973-980.
    5. Charis E. Kubrin & Tim Wadsworth, 2009. "Explaining Suicide Among Blacks and Whites: How Socioeconomic Factors and Gun Availability Affect Race‐Specific Suicide Rates," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 90(5), pages 1203-1227, December.
    6. McCleary, Richard & McDowall, David & Bartos, Bradley, 2017. "Design and Analysis of Time Series Experiments," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780190661564.
    7. Lauren J. Krivo & Julie A. Phillips, 2018. "How Does Immigration Affect Suicide? An Analysis of U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(4), pages 1510-1521, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lisa Marie Natter, 2025. "The Shadow of the Financial Crisis: Socio-Economic and Welfare Policy Development and Fear of Crime in Europe. A Random Effects Within-Between Model Analysis of the European Social Survey, 2002–2018," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 473-498, January.
    2. Robert J. Kolesar & Rok Spruk, 2024. "Effect of Austerity Measures on Infant Mortality: Evidence from Greece," Papers 2407.17084, arXiv.org.

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