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Understanding the Rise in Life Expectancy Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Gordon B. Dahl

    (University of California, San Diego)

  • Claus Thustrup Kreiner

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Torben Heien Nielsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Benjamin Ly Serena

    (Copenhagen Business School)

Abstract

We provide a novel decomposition of changing gaps in life expectancy between rich and poor into differential changes in age-specific mortality rates and differences in “survivability.” Declining age-specific mortality rates increases life expectancy, but the gain is small if the likelihood of living to this age is small (ex ante survivability) or if the expected remaining lifetime is short (ex post survivability). Lower survivability of the poor explains half of the recent rise in inequality in the United States and the entire rise in Denmark. Declines in cardiovascular mortality benefited rich and poor, but inequality increased because of differences in lifestyle-related survivability.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon B. Dahl & Claus Thustrup Kreiner & Torben Heien Nielsen & Benjamin Ly Serena, 2024. "Understanding the Rise in Life Expectancy Inequality," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(2), pages 566-575, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:106:y:2024:i:2:p:566-575
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01148
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    Cited by:

    1. Anam Mohammad & Delphine Roy & Maxime Tô & Todor Tochev, 2025. "How Does the Probability of Benefiting From a Disability Pension Vary With Early Career Earned Income?," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 546, pages 11-37.
    2. Paul Bingley & Claus Thustrup Kreiner & Benjamin Ly Serena, 2025. "Socioeconomic Inequality in Longevity: A Multidimensional Approach," CEBI working paper series 25-14, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    3. Paul Bingley & Claus Thustrup Kreiner & Benjamin Ly Serena, 2025. "Socioeconomic Inequality in Longevity: A Multidimensional Approach," CESifo Working Paper Series 12249, CESifo.
    4. V. Kerry Smith, 2026. "What is more important for subjective longevity expectations: being healthy or rich?," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 72(1), pages 137-160, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General

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