The Worse the Economy Gets, the Longer People Live

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) A weak labor market, like the one we’ve experienced since the financial crisis in 2008, imposes enormous stress on people. Given the added anxiety created by a weak economy, you might think life expectancy would decline. Oddly, though, during recessions, exactly the opposite tends to happen: Life expectancy rises.

It’s happening again now.

The age-adjusted death rate in the U.S. declined by 2 percent from 2007 to 2010, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, projected life expectancy at birth rose to 78.7 years in 2010 from 77.9 years in 2007, an increase of 0.8 year.

In contrast, from 2004 to 2007, when the economy was much stronger, life expectancy rose by only 0.4 year. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/the-worse-the-economy-gets-the-longer-people-live-peter-orszag.html

[Odin2005]

1. That's bizarre.

[cthulu2016]

2. cigarettes are very expensive

[Turbineguy]

3. This sounds like one of those

"You can prove anything with statistics" stories.

[janx]

5. Agreed. It sounds like something that might be an assumption based on a logical fallacy using

twisted numbers. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc comes to mind. On the other hand, there might be something to it. People often become more resilient and determined during tough times.

[Kurmudgeon]

4. Less money to do unhealthy things, perhaps....

[CTyankee]

6. I was going to say that people work less in a bad economy.

Perhaps the stress and strain of many jobs in our modern society, plus the worry about losing a job, might be a factor. The constant pressure to perform could lead to bad physical problems. The last 2 years of my full time job, at a time when I had an elderly parent and grandchildren and insufficent time for all of my roles, plus the stress of "holding" onto my job, were awful. Under gentle pressure from my primary care physician, who noted my job stress in my stress related physical symptoms, led me to make my decision to tell my boss when I would resign, wrap up my duties, and go out the door. I worked part time for several years after that, to my great relief.