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Life Potential as a Basic Demographic Indicator

Author

Listed:
  • Goerlich Gisbert Francisco J.

    (Ivie; Universidad de Valencia)

  • Soler Guillen Ángel

    (Universidad de Valencia e Ivie)

Abstract

This working paper proposes an indicator that integrates life expectancy with the demographic structure of the pop ulation for a given society, combining the simple indica tors of mortality and aging. Life expectancy at birth is in-dependent of the demographic structure of the population and is, therefore, adequate for measuring overall mortality. However, it neglects to take into account the fact that life expectancy increases as society ages. We propose a simple indicator that integrates life expectancy at different ages, not only at birth, with the demographic structure of the popula-tion at a given point in time. The indicator has an intuitive interpretation in terms of the life potential, or biological capital, of society; and given that it is a weighted average, its changes can be easily decomposed into reductions in mortality (gains in life expectancy) and aging for different age intervals.

Suggested Citation

  • Goerlich Gisbert Francisco J. & Soler Guillen Ángel, 2012. "Life Potential as a Basic Demographic Indicator," Working Papers 2012111, Fundacion BBVA / BBVA Foundation.
    • Handle: RePEc:fbb:wpaper:2012111
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    Cited by:

    1. Udaya S Mishra & Mohammad Kashif Khan & Mala Ramanathan, 2013. "Should life potential be a better alternative to life expectancy at birth? an Indian illustration," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 33(2), pages 1311-1316.
    2. Ramirez-Gomez, Sara O.I. & Torres-Vitolas, Carlos A. & Schreckenberg, Kate & Honzák, Miroslav & Cruz-Garcia, Gisella S. & Willcock, Simon & Palacios, Erwin & Pérez-Miñana, Elena & Verweij, Pita A. & P, 2015. "Analysis of ecosystem services provision in the Colombian Amazon using participatory research and mapping techniques," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 93-107.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • 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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