Economic inequality, intergenerational mobility, and life expectancy

Ning Xiong and Yehua Dennis Wei

Social Science & Medicine, 2025, vol. 366, issue C

Abstract: This study explores the mediating role of intergenerational mobility (IM) in the relationship between economic inequality and population health in the United States, focusing on life expectancy. Using multilevel structural equation modeling across state and commuting zone (CZ) levels for both genders, we find that economic inequality indices, except for the top 1 percent's income share, adversely affect life expectancy through absolute and relative mobility. Specifically, economic inequality reduces life expectancy more significantly through absolute mobility, especially among males and lower-income groups, with nuanced impacts observed across different geographic levels. Relative mobility also plays a role, primarily affecting males in lower-income groups at the CZ level, showing disparities between genders and no effects on higher-income groups. Including certain covariates, particularly social capital and Black population share, renders previously statistically significant absolute mobility effects for females and relative mobility effects for males at the state level insignificant. The indirect effects of economic inequality on life expectancy through absolute mobility effects for males remain consistently significant across all covariate inclusions. Our study offers nuanced insights into how economic inequality affects life expectancy through IM, suggesting targeted interventions to mitigate disparities and improve public health.

Keywords: Economic inequality; Life expectancy; Intergenerational mobility; Mediating effects; Multilevel structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:366:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625000115

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117682

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