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Macroeconomic Fluctuations and Motorcycle Fatalities in the U.S

Author

Listed:
  • Michael T. French

    (Department of Sociology, University of Miami)

  • Gulcin G. Gumus

    (Department of Management Programs, Florida Atlantic University)

Abstract

The effects of business cycles on health outcomes in general, and on traffic fatalities in particular, have received much attention recently. In this paper, we focus on motorcycle safety and examine the impact of changing levels of economic activity on fatal crashes by motorcyclists in the United States. We analyze state-level longitudinal data from the 1988-2010 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Using the extensive motorcycle crash characteristics available in FARS, we examine total and disaggregated fatality rates. Our results are consistent with much of the existing literature showing that traffic fatality rates are pro-cyclical. The estimates suggest that a 10% increase in real income per capita is associated with a 10.4% rise in the total motorcycle fatality rate. Along with the potential mechanisms, policymakers and public health officials should consider the effects of business cycles on motorcycle safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael T. French & Gulcin G. Gumus, 2013. "Macroeconomic Fluctuations and Motorcycle Fatalities in the U.S," Working Papers 2013-12, University of Miami, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mia:wpaper:2013-12
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    File URL: https://www.herbert.miami.edu/_assets/files/repec/WP2013-12.pdf
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    2. Sameem, Sediq & Sylwester, Kevin, 2017. "The business cycle and mortality: Urban versus rural counties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 28-35.
    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. French, Michael T. & Gumus, Gulcin, 2018. "Watch for motorcycles! The effects of texting and handheld bans on motorcyclist fatalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 81-87.
    5. Shaw, Williams & Wang, Guangmin & Ampofo, Gideon Kwaku Minua & Befeke, Chenyi Larry & Botei, Diana, 2025. "An analysis of the symmetric and asymmetric relationship between road traffic casualties and economic development of Ghana," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    6. Frijters, Paul & Johnston, David W. & Shields, Michael A. & Sinha, Kompal, 2015. "A lifecycle perspective of stock market performance and wellbeing," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 237-250.
    7. Popovici, Ioana & Maclean, J. Catherine & French, Michael, 2017. "The Effects of Health Insurance Parity Laws for Substance Use Disorder Treatment on Traffic Fatalities: Evidence of Unintended Benefits," IZA Discussion Papers 10746, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Biondi, Beatrice & Mazzocchi, Mario, 2024. "An empirical analysis of the effect of economic activity and COVID-19 restrictions on road traffic accidents in Italy," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Ha Trong Nguyen & Luke Brian Connelly, 2018. "Out of sight but not out of mind: Home countries' macroeconomic volatilities and immigrants' mental health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 189-208, January.
    10. Carpenter, Christopher S. & McClellan, Chandler B. & Rees, Daniel I., 2017. "Economic conditions, illicit drug use, and substance use disorders in the United States," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 63-73.
    11. Ioana Popovici & Johanna Catherine Maclean & Michael T. French, 2017. "Health Insurance and Traffic Fatalities: The Effects of Substance Use Disorder Parity Laws," NBER Working Papers 23388, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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