Health and health inequality during the great recession: Evidence from the PSID

Huixia Wang; Chenggang Wang; Timothy J Halliday

doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2018.01.001

Health and health inequality during the great recession: Evidence from the PSID

Econ Hum Biol. 2018 May:29:17-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2018.01.001. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Authors

Huixia Wang¹, Chenggang Wang², Timothy J Halliday³

Affiliations

¹ Hunan University, School of Economics and Trade, China.
² University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics, United States.
³ University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics, United States; University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, IZA, United States. Electronic address: halliday@hawaii.edu.

PMID: 29413585
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2018.01.001

Abstract

We estimate the impact of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 on health outcomes in the United States. We show that a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate resulted in a 7.8-8.8% increase in reports of poor health. In addition, mental health was adversely impacted. These effects were concentrated among those with strong labor force attachments. Whites, the less educated, and women were the most impacted demographic groups.

Keywords: Great recession; Health behaviors; Health outcomes; Inequality.

MeSH terms

Adult
Economic Recession / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Health Status Disparities*
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Health / statistics & numerical data*
Middle Aged
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Unemployment / statistics & numerical data*
United States / epidemiology

Grants and funding

R01 HD069609/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States