Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union
Male life expectancy at birth fell by over six years in Russia between 1989 and 1994. Many other countries of the former Soviet Union saw similar declines, and female life expectancy fell as well. Using cross-country and Russian household survey data, we assess six possible explanations for this upsurge in mortality. Most find little support in the data: the deterioration of the health care system, changes in diet and obesity, and material deprivation fail to explain the increase in mortality rates. The two factors that do appear to be important are alcohol consumption, especially as it relates to external causes of death (homicide, suicide, and accidents) and stress associated with a poor outlook for the future. However, a large residual remains to be explained.
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| Length: | |
| Date of creation: | 2005 |
| Publication status: | Published in Journal of Economic Perspectives |
| Handle: | RePEc:hrv:faseco:2640589 |
| Contact details of provider: | Postal: Littauer Center, Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone: 617-495-2144 Fax: 617-495-7730 Web page: http://www.economics.harvard.edu/ More information through EDIRC
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- Elizabeth Brainerd & David M. Cutler, 2005.
"Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union,"
Journal of Economic Perspectives,
American Economic Association, vol. 19(1), pages 107-130, Winter.
- Elizabeth Brainerd & David M. Cutler, 2004. "Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union," NBER Working Papers 10868, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Elizabeth Brainerd & David M. Cutler, 2005. "Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series wp740, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
- Brainerd, Elizabeth & Cutler, David M., 2005. "Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union," IZA Discussion Papers 1472, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
- Brainerd, Elizabeth & Cutler, David, 2005. "Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union," Scholarly Articles 2640589, Harvard University Department of Economics.
- Brainerd, Elizabeth & Cutler, David M, 2005. "Autopsy on an Empire: Understanding Mortality in Russia and the Former Soviet Union," CEPR Discussion Papers 4900, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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