Mortality in Greece Before and During the Recent Economic Recession: Short-Terms Effects of the Economic Austerity

This article examines mortality trends in Greece from 1980 to 2019, a period characterized by extremely rapid economic growth at first and a deep recession after that. During these years, increases in life expectancies are recorded. These indicators can still mask marked differences in the transition from general mortality to specific causes of death, especially those most sensitive to socio-economic changes. To detect changes in trends that may be linked to the austerity policies and their consequences, an analysis of changes in the leading mortality indicators is undertaken, comparing the period before 2011 with recent years, marked by significant upheavals. Our results show a slowdown in the growth of life expectancies after 2010, an increase in infant mortality and death probability from suicide and certain diseases of the circulatory and respiratory system, infectious and parasitic diseases. Conversely, there has been a relatively large drop in the intensity of deaths from road accidents. Our work suggests that the substantial deterioration in Greece’s socio-economic situation has so far not had a significant effect on mortality. Although they do not reveal a health tragedy, some indicators deserve special attention. In fact, more time is needed to assess the likely effects of the crisis, as the deterioration of a population’s health does not automatically affect its mortality.