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An economic heory of depression and its impact on health behavior and longevity

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  • Strulik, Holger

Abstract

In this paper, I introduce depression to the economics of human health and aging. Based on studies from happiness research, depression is conceptualized as a drastic loss of utility and value of life (life satisfaction) for unchanged fundamentals. The model is used to explain how untreated depression leads to unhealthy behavior and adverse health outcomes: depressed individuals are predicted to save less, invest less in their health, consume more unhealthy goods, and exercise less. As a result, they age faster and die earlier than non-depressed individuals. I calibrate the model for an average American and discus the socioeconomic gradient of health and depression as well as the hump-shaped association of antidepressant use with age. Delays in treatment for depression in young adulthood are predicted to have significant repercussions on late-life health outcomes and longevity.

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  • Strulik, Holger, 2018. "An economic heory of depression and its impact on health behavior and longevity," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 337, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cegedp:337
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    Cited by:

    1. Angelucci, Manuela & Bennett, Daniel M, 2021. "The Economic Impact of Depression Treatment in India," IZA Discussion Papers 14393, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Ringdal, Charlotte & Rootjes, Frank, 2022. "Depression and labor supply: Evidence from the Netherlands," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    3. Edward N. Okeke, 2021. "Money and my mind: Maternal cash transfers and mental health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(11), pages 2879-2904, November.
    4. Miguel Sánchez-Romero & Alexia Prskawetz, 2020. "Optimal time allocation in active retirement," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 28(2), pages 401-424, June.
    5. Strulik, Holger, 2021. "From pain patient to junkie: An economic theory of painkiller consumption and its impact on wellbeing and longevity," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Hosoya, Kei, 2023. "Impact of infectious disease pandemics on individual lifetime consumption: An endogenous time preference approach," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    depression; depression therapy; health behavior; aging; longevity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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