Socioeconomic Inequality in Longevity: A Multidimensional Approach

Paul Bingley, Claus Kreiner and Benjamin Ly Serena

No 20836, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: Socioeconomic inequality in longevity is typically measured using a single socioeconomic indi-cator such as education or income. We combine multiple indicators—education, income, occu-pation, wealth, and IQ scores—and apply machine learning to measure inequality in longevity. Using Danish population-wide data spanning 40 years, we track mortality for the 1942–44 birth cohorts from age 40 onwards to estimate life expectancy by socioeconomic status. Individuals at the top of the socioeconomic distribution live nearly 25 years longer than those at the bottom. The socioeconomic gradient in life expectancy becomes 50–150% steeper when using multiple indicators.

Keywords: Inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-11
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