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Mortality and Macroeconomic Conditions: What Can We Learn From France?

Author

Listed:
  • Max Brüning

    (School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University - Department of Economics)

  • Josselin Thuilliez

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This study uses aggregate panel data on French départements to investigate the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and mortality from 1982 to 2014. We find no consistent relationship between macroeconomic conditions and all-cause mortality in France. The results are robust across different specifications, over time, and across different geographic levels. However, we find that heterogeneity across age groups and mortality causes matters. Furthermore, in areas with a low average educational level, a large population, and a high share of migrants, mortality is significantly countercyclical. Similar to the case in the United States, the relationship between the unemployment rate and mortality seems to have moved from slightly procyclical to slightly countercyclical over the period of analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Max Brüning & Josselin Thuilliez, 2019. "Mortality and Macroeconomic Conditions: What Can We Learn From France?," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-02327341, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-02327341
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-019-00811-4
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    Cited by:

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    2. 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.
    3. Janke, Katharina & Lee, Kevin & Propper, Carol & Shields, Kalvinder & Shields, Michael A., 2023. "Economic conditions and health: Local effects, national effect and local area heterogeneity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 801-828.
    4. Florian Bonnet & Hippolyte d'Albis & Josselin Thuilliez, 2022. "Influenza Mortality in French Regions after the Hong Kong Flu Pandemic," PSE Working Papers halshs-03763371, HAL.
    5. Kadir Atalay & Rebecca Edwards & Stefanie Schurer & David Ubilava, 2021. "Lives saved during economic downturns: Evidence from Australia," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(10), pages 2452-2467, September.
    6. Ilaria Natali & Mathias Dewatripont & Victor Ginsburgh & Michel Goldman & Patrick Legros, 2023. "Prescription opioids and economic hardship in France," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 24(9), pages 1473-1504, December.
    7. Jonathan James, 2023. "Let there be light: Daylight saving time and road traffic collisions," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 523-545, July.
    8. Giambattista Salinari & Federico Benassi, 2022. "The long-term effect of the Great Recession on European mortality," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 417-439, September.
    9. Florian Bonnet & Josselin Thuilliez & Hippolyte d'Albis, 2022. "Influenza mortality in French regions after the Hong Kong flu pandemic," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(19), pages 545-576.

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