Health Inequality and Health Types

Margherita Borella, Francisco Bullano, Mariacristina De Nardi, Benjamin Krueger and Elena Manresa

No 19434, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: While health affects many economic outcomes, its dynamics are still poorly understood. We use k-means clustering, a machine learning technique, and data from the Health and Retirement Study to identify health types during middle and old age. We identify five health types: the vigorous resilient, the fair-health resilient, the fair-health vulnerable, the frail resilient, and the frail vulnerable. They are characterized by different starting health and health and mortality trajectories. Our five health types account for 84% of the variation in health trajectories and are not explained by observable characteristics, such as age, marital status, education, gender, race, health-related behaviors, and health insurance status, but rather, by one’s past health dynamics. We also show that health types are important drivers of health and mortality heterogeneity and dynamics. Our results underscore the importance of better understanding health type formation and of modeling it appropriately to properly evaluate the effects of health on people’s decisions and the implications of policy reforms.

Keywords: Health; Life expectancy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-09
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Related works:
Working Paper: Health Inequality and Health Types (2024)
Working Paper: Health inequality and health types (2024)
Working Paper: Health Inequality and Health Types (2024)
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