The Role of Marriage in the Causal Pathway from Economic Conditions Early in Life to Mortality

Gerard van den Berg and Sumedha Gupta

No 5454, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper analyzes the interplay between early-life conditions and marital status, as determinants of adult mortality. We use individual data from Dutch registers (years 1815-2000), combined with business cycle conditions in childhood as indicators of early-life conditions. The empirical analysis estimates bivariate duration models of marriage and mortality, allowing for unobserved heterogeneity and causal effects. Results show that conditions around birth and school ages are important for marriage and mortality. Men typically enjoy a protective effect of marriage on mortality, whereas women suffer during childbearing ages. Having been born under favorable economic conditions reduces female mortality during childbearing ages.

Keywords: timing of events; death; marital status; lifetimes; life expectancy; recession; longevity; selectivity; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C41 E32 I12 J14 N13 N33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 38 pages
Date: 2011-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Published - published in: Journal of Health Economics, 2015, 40, 141–158

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Related works:
Journal Article: The role of marriage in the causal pathway from economic conditions early in life to mortality (2015)
Working Paper: The role of marriage in the causal pathway from economic conditions early in life to mortality (2011)
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