IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/fistud/v46y2025i1p139-162.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mortality inequality in Chile

Author

Listed:
  • Gedeão Locks

Abstract

This paper analyses trends in mortality inequality in 330 Chilean communes from 1990 to 2010 for different age groups and both genders. Chile had substantial inequalities in local‐level mortality rates in 1990 but by 2010 these disparities had significantly decreased, especially among infants, children and the elderly. The only exception was Chilean men aged 20–39, for whom inequality in mortality remained persistently high. Robust economic growth and targeted health interventions in the 1990s contributed to declining mortality rates and mortality inequality. From 2000 to 2010, efforts to expand safety nets and improve health‐care access continued, with a greater impact on adults aged 49 years and above. Despite these advances, child mortality remains significantly higher than in developed countries, and the increasing number of female suicides in younger age groups represents a concerning trend.

Suggested Citation

  • Gedeão Locks, 2025. "Mortality inequality in Chile," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(1), pages 139-162, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:fistud:v:46:y:2025:i:1:p:139-162
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-5890.12387
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-5890.12387
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/1475-5890.12387?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lustig, Nora & Lopez-Calva, Luis F. & Ortiz-Juarez, Eduardo, 2013. "Declining Inequality in Latin America in the 2000s: The Cases of Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 129-141.
    2. Nora Lustig & Luis F. Lopez-Calva & Eduardo Ortiz-Juarez & Célestin Monga, 2016. "Deconstructing the Decline in Inequality in Latin America," International Economic Association Series, in: Kaushik Basu & Joseph E. Stiglitz (ed.), Inequality and Growth: Patterns and Policy, chapter 7, pages 212-247, Palgrave Macmillan.
    3. Janet Currie & Hannes Schwandt, 2016. "Mortality Inequality: The Good News from a County-Level Approach," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(2), pages 29-52, Spring.
    4. Michael Baker & Janet Currie & Boriana Miloucheva & Hannes Schwandt & Josselin Thuilliez, 2021. "Inequality in Mortality: Updated Estimates for the United States, Canada and France," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 25-46, March.
    5. Michael Baker & Janet Currie & Hannes Schwandt, 2019. "Mortality Inequality in Canada and the United States: Divergent or Convergent Trends?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(S2), pages 325-353.
    6. Janet Currie & Hannes Schwandt & Josselin Thuilliez, 2020. "Pauvreté, Egalité, Mortalité: mortality (in)equality in France and the United States," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(1), pages 197-231, January.
    7. Koch, Kira Johanna & Cid Pedraza, Camilo & Schmid, Andreas, 2017. "Out-of-pocket expenditure and financial protection in the Chilean health care system—A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(5), pages 481-494.
    8. 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.
    9. Mr. Esteban Jadresic & Mr. Roberto Zahler, 2000. "Chile's Rapid Growth in the 1990's-Good Policies, Good Luck, or Political Change?," IMF Working Papers 2000/153, International Monetary Fund.
    10. Jean-Pierre Unger & Pierre De Paepe & Giorgio Solimano Cantuarias & Oscar Arteaga Herrera, 2008. "Chile's Neoliberal Health Reform: An Assessment and a Critique," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(4), pages 1-6, April.
    11. Paola Bertoli & Veronica Grembi, 2021. "Mortality Inequality in the Czech Republic," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 171-191, March.
    12. Ignacio Flores & Claudia Sanhueza & Jorge Atria & Ricardo Mayer, 2020. "Top Incomes in Chile: A Historical Perspective on Income Inequality, 1964–2017," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 66(4), pages 850-874, December.
    13. Peter Redler & Amelie Wuppermann & Joachim Winter & Hannes Schwandt & Janet Currie, 2021. "Geographic Inequality in Income and Mortality in Germany," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 147-170, March.
    14. Janet Currie & Hannes Schwandt & Josselin Thuilliez, 2020. "Pauvreté, Egalité, Mortalité: mortality (in)equality in France and the United States," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(1), pages 197-231, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Brandily, Paul & Brébion, Clément & Briole, Simon & Khoury, Laura, 2021. "A poorly understood disease? The impact of COVID-19 on the income gradient in mortality over the course of the pandemic," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    2. Aline Bütikofer & René Karadakic & Kjell G. Salvanes, 2021. "Income Inequality and Mortality: A Norwegian Perspective," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 193-221, March.
    3. Nicolas Berman & Lorenzo Rotunno & Roberta Ziparo, 2020. "Sweet child of mine: Parental income, child health and inequality," AMSE Working Papers 2005, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France, revised Dec 2022.
    4. James Banks & Sarah Cattan & Lucy Kraftman & Sonya Krutikova, 2021. "Mortality Inequality in England over the Past 20 Years," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 47-77, March.
    5. Kristiina Huttunen & Stefano Lombardi, 2021. "Mortality Inequality in Finland," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 223-244, March.
    6. Pijoan-Mas, Josep & Bohacek, Radim & Bueren, Jesus & Crespo, Laura & Mira, Pedro, 2018. "Inequality in Life Expectancies across Europe," CEPR Discussion Papers 13184, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Libertad González Luna & Ana Rodríguez-González, 2018. "Changes in inequality in mortality: New evidence for Spain," Economics Working Papers 1616, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    8. Kadir Atalay & Rebecca Edwards & Fiona Georgiakakis, 2023. "Mortality inequality, spatial differences and health care access," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(11), pages 2632-2654, November.
    9. Berman, Nicolas & Rotunno, Lorenzo & Ziparo, Roberta, 2020. "Sweet child of mine: Income, health and inequality," CEPR Discussion Papers 14444, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Miguel Niño‐Zarazúa & Laurence Roope & Finn Tarp, 2017. "Global Inequality: Relatively Lower, Absolutely Higher," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 63(4), pages 661-684, December.
    11. Juan Grigera, 2022. "Adding Insult to Injury: The COVID‐19 Crisis Strikes Latin America," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(6), pages 1335-1361, November.
    12. Max Brüning & Josselin Thuilliez, 2019. "Mortality and Macroeconomic Conditions: What Can We Learn From France?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(5), pages 1747-1764, October.
    13. Gáfaro, Margarita & Ibáñez, Ana María & Sánchez-Ordoñez, Daniel & Ortiz, María Camila, 2023. "Farm Size and Income Distribution of Latin American Agriculture New Perspectives on an Old Issue," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13078, Inter-American Development Bank.
    14. 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.
    15. Scarlato, Margherita & D'Agostino, Giorgio, 2016. "The political economy of cash transfers: a comparative analysis of Latin American and sub-Saharan African experiences," IDOS Discussion Papers 6/2016, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    16. Florian Bonnet & Hippolyte d'Albis, 2020. "Spatial Inequality in Mortality in France over the Past Two Centuries," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 46(1), pages 145-168, March.
    17. Diego Winkelried & Bruno Escobar, 2022. "Declining inequality in Latin America? Robustness checks for Peru," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(1), pages 223-243, March.
    18. Grossmann, Volker & Strulik, Holger, 2021. "Illicit drugs and the decline of the middle class," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 718-743.
    19. Nora Lustig, 2020. "Inequality and Social Policy in Latin America," Commitment to Equity (CEQ) Working Paper Series 94, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    20. Tracy Beck Fenwick, 2017. "Themed Issue: Cash Transfers and Microfinance," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 35(5), pages 659-674, September.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:fistud:v:46:y:2025:i:1:p:139-162. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-5890 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.