Illicit drugs and the decline of the middle class

Volker Grossmann and Holger Strulik

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2021, vol. 183, issue C, 718-743

Abstract: Empirical evidence for the U.S. suggests that illicit consumption of opioids increases in association with socio-economic deprivation of the middle-class. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we set up a task-based labor market model with endogenous mental health status and a health care system. The decline of tasks that were historically performed by the middle class and the associated decline in socio-economic status increases the share of mentally distressed middle class workers. Mentally distressed workers can mitigate their hardships by the intake of illicit drugs or by consuming health goods. We argue that explaining the rise in illicit drug use among the U.S. middle class requires an interaction of socio-economic decline and falling opioid prices, i.e. one factor in isolation is insufficient. Our analysis also points to a central role of the health care system. Extending mental health care could motivate the mentally distressed to abstain from illicit drug consumption.

Keywords: Socio-economic deprivation; Illicit drugs; Mental distress; Middle class; Health insurance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 I10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Illicit Drugs and the Decline of the Middle Class (2021)
Working Paper: Illicit drugs and the decline of the middle class (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:183:y:2021:i:c:p:718-743

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.01.021

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