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Early-life economic conditions and old-age male mortality: evidence from historical county-level bank deposit data

Author

Listed:
  • Hamid Noghanibehambari

    (Austin Peay State University)

  • Jason Fletcher

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Lauren Schmitz

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Valentina Duque

    (University of Sydney)

  • Vikas Gawai

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract

This paper studies the long-run mortality effects of in utero and early-life economic conditions. We examine how local economic conditions experienced during the Great Depression, proxied by county-level banking deposits during in utero and first years of life, influences old-age longevity. We find that a one-standard-deviation rise in per capita bank deposits is associated with an approximately 1.7 month increase in males’ longevity at old age. Additional analyses comparing state-level versus county-level economic measures provide insight on the importance of controlling for local-level confounders and exploiting more granular measures when exploring the relationship between early-life conditions and later-life mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamid Noghanibehambari & Jason Fletcher & Lauren Schmitz & Valentina Duque & Vikas Gawai, 2024. "Early-life economic conditions and old-age male mortality: evidence from historical county-level bank deposit data," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 1-33, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:37:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s00148-024-01007-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-024-01007-w
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mortality; Longevity; Great Depression; Historical data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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