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The Impact of Homicide on State-Level Life Expectancy and Lifespan Inequality in the US, 1968-2020

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Abstract

While life expectancy losses due to homicide are well-documented in the US, their simultaneous effect on lifespan inequality remains underexplored. Therefore, this study examines the impact of homicide on life expectancy and lifespan inequality at the state level in the US from 1968 to 2020, employing Theil's entropy index to measure lifespan inequality. Using a Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) econometric model, we also analyzed the demographic, socioeconomic, and policy factors influencing these outcomes. We found substantial regional disparities, with Southern states consistently exhibiting the highest life expectancy losses and lifespan inequality increases due to homicide. Demographic factors, such as a higher proportion of high school graduates, are associated with reduced impacts of homicide, while higher percentages of Black populations and percentage of population 25-34 age group correlate with larger effects, reflecting systemic inequities in exposure to violence. Furthermore, corrections and judicial spending influence both life expectancy and lifespan inequality. Police and health spending mitigate lifespan inequality, while welfare expenditures often correlate with higher inequality, likely reflecting underlying socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Our results emphasize the need for integrated, evidence-based policy approaches targeting structural inequalities and specific demographic vulnerabilities. Strategies such as youth violence prevention, education-focused interventions, and community-based justice reforms are likely to be critical for mitigating homicide's impact. This work underscores homicide's dual role as a public health and societal challenge, calling for tailored policies to address both immediate and systemic factors driving violence.

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  • M.D.J.W. Wijesinghe & Michael P. Cameron & Susan Olivia & Les Oxley, 2025. "The Impact of Homicide on State-Level Life Expectancy and Lifespan Inequality in the US, 1968-2020," Working Papers in Economics 25/01, University of Waikato.
    • Handle: RePEc:wai:econwp:25/01
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    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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