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Disease Prevalence, Disease Incidence, and Mortality in the United States and in England

Author

Listed:
  • Banks, James

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Muriel, Alastair

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Smith, James P.

    (RAND)

Abstract

We find disease incidence and prevalence are both higher among Americans in age groups 55-64 and 70-80 indicating that Americans suffer from higher past cumulative disease risk and experience higher immediate risk of new disease onset compared to the English. In contrast, age specific mortality rates are similar in the two countries with an even higher risk among the English after age 65. Our second aim explains large financial gradients in mortality in the two countries. Among 55-64 year olds, we estimate similar health gradients in income and wealth in both countries, but for 70-80 year old, we find no income gradient in UK. Standard behavioral risk factors (work, marriage, obesity, exercise, and smoking) almost fully explain income gradients among 55-64 years old in both countries and a significant part among Americans 70-80 years old. The most likely explanation of no English income gradient relates to their income benefit system. Below the median, retirement benefits are largely flat and independent of past income and hence past health during the working years. Finally, we report evidence using a long panel of American respondents that their subsequent mortality is not related to large changes in wealth experienced during the prior ten year period.

Suggested Citation

  • Banks, James & Muriel, Alastair & Smith, James P., 2010. "Disease Prevalence, Disease Incidence, and Mortality in the United States and in England," IZA Discussion Papers 4992, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4992
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. IZA - Disease Prevalence, Disease Incidence, and Mortality in the United States and in England
      by Liam Delaney in Geary Behaviour Centre on 2010-07-07 00:41:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Banks, James & Muriel, Alastair & Smith, James P., 2010. "Attrition and Health in Ageing Studies: Evidence from ELSA and HRS," IZA Discussion Papers 5161, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. James Banks & James P. Smith, 2012. "International Comparisons in Health Economics: Evidence from Aging Studies," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 4(1), pages 57-81, July.
    3. Kim, Younoh & Sikoki, Bondan & Strauss, John & Witoelar, Firman, 2015. "Intergenerational correlations of health among older adults: Empirical evidence from Indonesia," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 6(C), pages 44-56.
    4. Aïda Solé-Auró & Pierre-Carl Michaud & Michael Hurd & Eileen Crimmins, 2015. "Disease Incidence and Mortality Among Older Americans and Europeans," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(2), pages 593-611, April.
    5. Smith, James P., 2021. "The HRS around the world surveys—A review," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    6. James Banks & Zoë Oldfield & James P. Smith, 2011. "Childhood Health and Differences in Late-Life Health Outcomes between England and the United States," NBER Chapters, in: Investigations in the Economics of Aging, pages 321-339, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Strauss, John & Lei, Xiaoyan & Park, Albert & Shen, Yan & Smith, James P. & Yang, Zhe & Zhao, Yaohui, 2010. "Health Outcomes and Socio-Economic Status among the Elderly in China: Evidence from the CHARLS Pilot," IZA Discussion Papers 5152, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Lei, Xiaoyan & Sun, Xiaoting & Strauss, John & Zhao, Yaohui & Yang, Gonghuan & Hu, Perry & Hu, Yisong & Yin, Xiangjun, 2014. "Reprint of: Health outcomes and socio-economic status among the mid-aged and elderly in China: Evidence from the CHARLS national baseline data," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 4(C), pages 59-73.
    9. Datta Gupta, Nabanita & Kleinjans, Kristin J. & Larsen, Mona, 2011. "The Effect of an Acute Health Shock on Work Behavior: Evidence from Different Health Care Regimes," IZA Discussion Papers 5843, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Irene Mosca & Rose Kenny, 2014. "Exploring differences in prevalence of diagnosed, measured and undiagnosed hypertension: the case of Ireland and the United States of America," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(5), pages 759-767, October.
    11. Iris Kesternich & Bettina Siflinger & James P. Smith & Joachim K. Winter, 2014. "The Effects of World War II on Economic and Health Outcomes across Europe," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(1), pages 103-118, March.
    12. Lei, Xiaoyan & Sun, Xiaoting & Strauss, John & Zhao, Yaohui & Yang, Gonghuan & Hu, Perry & Hu, Yisong & Yin, Xiangjun, 2014. "Health outcomes and socio-economic status among the mid-aged and elderly in China: Evidence from the CHARLS national baseline data," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 3(C), pages 29-43.
    13. Carolyn M. Rutter & Amy B. Knudsen & Tracey L. Marsh & V. Paul Doria-Rose & Eric Johnson & Chester Pabiniak & Karen M. Kuntz & Marjolein van Ballegooijen & Ann G. Zauber & Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, 2016. "Validation of Models Used to Inform Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 36(5), pages 604-614, July.
    14. Mark R Cullen & Clint Cummins & Victor R Fuchs, 2012. "Geographic and Racial Variation in Premature Mortality in the U.S.: Analyzing the Disparities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-13, April.
    15. Côté-Sergent, Aurelie & Fonseca, Raquel & Strumpf, Erin, 2020. "Comparing the education gradient in health deterioration among the elderly in six OECD countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(3), pages 326-335.
    16. Firman Witoelar & John Strauss & Bondan Sikoki, 2009. "Socioeconomic Success and Health in Later Life Evidence from the Indonesia Family Life Survey," Working Papers WR-704, RAND Corporation.
    17. Choi, HwaJung & Burgard, Sarah & Elo, Irma T. & Heisler, Michele, 2015. "Are older adults living in more equal counties healthier than older adults living in more unequal counties? A propensity score matching approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 82-90.
    18. repec:ran:wpaper:774 is not listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    health;

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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