The Role of Marriage in the Causal Pathway from Economic Conditions Early in Life to Mortality

38 Pages Posted: 31 Jan 2011

See all articles by Gerard J. van den Berg

Gerard J. van den Berg

University of Groningen; VU University Amsterdam - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); IZA Institute of Labor Economics; Tinbergen Institute

Sumedha Gupta

Department of Economics, IUPUI

Date Written: January 15, 2011

Abstract

This paper analyzes the interplay between early-life conditions and marital status, as determinants of adult mortality. We use individual data from Dutch registers (years 1815-2000), combined with business cycle conditions in childhood as indicators of early-life conditions. The empirical analysis estimates bivariate duration models of marriage and mortality, allowing for unobserved heterogeneity and causal effects. Results show that conditions around birth and school ages are important for marriage and mortality. Men typically enjoy a protective effect of marriage on mortality, whereas women suffer during childbearing ages. Having been born under favorable economic conditions reduces female mortality during childbearing ages.

Keywords: death, longevity, recession, life expectancy, lifetimes, marital status, timing of events, selectivity, health

JEL Classification: I12, J14, E32, N33, N13, C41

Suggested Citation

van den Berg, Gerard J. and Gupta, Sumedha, The Role of Marriage in the Causal Pathway from Economic Conditions Early in Life to Mortality (January 15, 2011). IZA Discussion Paper No. 5454, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1751436 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1751436

Gerard J. Van den Berg (Contact Author)

University of Groningen ( email )

P.O. Box 800
9700 AH Groningen, Groningen 9700 AV
Netherlands

VU University Amsterdam - Department of Economics ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands
+31 20 444 6132 (Phone)
+32 20 444 6020 (Fax)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Tinbergen Institute

Burg. Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062 PA
Netherlands

Sumedha Gupta

Department of Economics, IUPUI ( email )

425 University Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140
Germany

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