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The evolution of longevity: Evidence from Canada

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  • Kevin Milligan
  • Tammy Schirle

Abstract

Canadian men in the top earnings ventile live eight years (11%) longer than do men in the bottom ventile. For women, the difference is 3.6 years. This earnings–longevity gradient has shifted uniformly across earnings groups through time, in stark contrast to in the US. We demonstrate that the widely used period measurement method can differ from cohort measures. For middle‐aged men, we find a recent slowdown of mortality improvements, echoing the situation in the US. With comparable data, the Canadian earnings–longevity gradient is half the US gradient; but one quarter of this gap may result from Canada–US earnings differences. Évolution de la longévité: l’exemple du Canada. En matière de revenus, les hommes au Canada situés dans le vingtile supérieur vivent huit ans (11%) de plus que les hommes situés le vingtile inférieur. Pour les femmes, la différence est de 3,6 ans. Ce gradient revenus/longévité n’a cessé d’évoluer uniformément dans le temps et pour toutes les catégories de revenus, en net contraste avec les États‐Unis. Nous montrons que la méthode de mesure par période, largement utilisée, peut différer de la mesure par cohorte. Pour les hommes d’âge moyen, nous constatons un ralentissement récent de l’amélioration de la longévité comparable à celui observé aux États‐Unis. À l’aide de données comparables, il apparaît que le gradient revenus/longévité est moitié moindre pour le Canada que pour les États‐Unis; néanmoins, un quart de cet écart découle des disparités de revenus entre les deux pays.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Milligan & Tammy Schirle, 2021. "The evolution of longevity: Evidence from Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(1), pages 164-192, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:54:y:2021:i:1:p:164-192
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12497
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    Cited by:

    1. James Banks & Janet Currie & Sonya Krutikova & Kjell G. Salvanes & Hannes Schwandt, 2021. "The Evolution of Mortality Inequality in 11 OECD Countries: Introduction," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 9-23, March.
    2. Jan L. M. Dhaene & Moshe A. Milevsky, 2024. "Egalitarian pooling and sharing of longevity risk', a.k.a. 'The many ways to skin a tontine cat," Papers 2402.00855, arXiv.org.
    3. Guy Lacroix & Francois Laliberté‐Auger & Pierre‐Carl Michaud & Daniel Parent, 2021. "The effect of college education on health and mortality: Evidence from Canada," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(S1), pages 105-118, November.
    4. Franca Glenzer & Pierre-Carl Michaud & Stefan Staubli, 2023. "Frames, Incentives, and Education: Effectiveness of Interventions to Delay Public Pension Claiming," CIRANO Working Papers 2023s-05, CIRANO.
    5. Marie Connolly & Akakpo Domefa-Konou & Marie-Louise Leroux, 2023. "Evaluating the relationship between income, survival and loss of autonomy among older Canadians," CIRANO Working Papers 2023s-04, CIRANO.
    6. Adriana Lleras‐Muney, 2022. "Education and income gradients in longevity: The role of policy," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(1), pages 5-37, February.
    7. Milevsky, Moshe A., 2020. "Swimming with wealthy sharks: longevity, volatility and the value of risk pooling," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(2), pages 217-246, April.
    8. Brant Abbott & Giovanni Gallipoli, 2018. "Human Capital Inequality: Empirical Evidence," Working Papers 2018-085, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    9. Kevin Milligan & Tammy Schirle, 2018. "Rich Man, Poor Man: The Policy Implications of Canadians Living Longer," e-briefs 282, C.D. Howe Institute.
    10. Frank T Denton & Byron G Spencer & Terry A Yip, 2019. "Age-Income Dynamics Over The Life Course: Cohort Transition Patterns In Relative Income Based On Canadian Tax Returns," Department of Economics Working Papers 2019-02, McMaster University.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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