Socioeconomic Differences in Health Over the Life Cycle in an Egalitarian Country

32 Pages Posted: 26 Jan 2009

See all articles by Hans van Kippersluis

Hans van Kippersluis

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Owen A. O'Donnell

University of Macedonia

Eddy van Doorslaer

Erasmus School of Economics

Tom Van Ourti

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR); Tinbergen Institute

Date Written: January 23, 2009

Abstract

A strong relationship between health and socioeconomic status is firmly established. Yet, partly due to the multidimensional and dynamic nature of the variables, the causal mechanisms connecting them are poorly understood. This paper argues that adoption of a life-cycle perspective is essential to uncover these causal pathways. A life-cycle perspective also allows investigation of whether the socioeconomically disadvantaged, on top of a lower health level, experience a sharper deterioration of their health over the life cycle. We show that in the Netherlands, as in the US, the socioeconomic gradient in health widens until late-middle age and narrows thereafter. The analysis and the available evidence suggests that the widening gradient is attributable both to health-related withdrawal from the labor force, resulting in lower incomes, and the cumulative protective effect of education on health outcomes. The less educated suffer a double health penalty in that they begin adult life with a slightly lower health level, which subsequently declines at a faster rate. The observed narrowing of the gradient in old age is partly an artefact stemming from the fact that only the most healthy of the disadvantaged survive into old age. It also reflects that after middle age, withdrawal from the labor force increasingly occurs for non health-related reasons.

Keywords: Health, Socioeconomic Status, Life Cycle

JEL Classification: D30, D31, I10, I12

Suggested Citation

van Kippersluis, Hans and O'Donnell, Owen A. and van Doorslaer, Eddy and Van Ourti, Tom, Socioeconomic Differences in Health Over the Life Cycle in an Egalitarian Country (January 23, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1331836 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1331836

Hans Van Kippersluis (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

Burg. Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

Owen A. O'Donnell

University of Macedonia ( email )

156 Egnatia St.
P.O. 1591
Thessaloniki, 54006
Greece

Eddy Van Doorslaer

Erasmus School of Economics ( email )

Netherlands

Tom Van Ourti

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3000 DR Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3062PA
Netherlands

Tinbergen Institute ( email )

Burg. Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062 PA
Netherlands

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