Eric Neumayer1, Thomas Plümper1. 1. Eric Neumayer is with the Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK. Thomas Plümper is with the Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We examined the effects of market income inequality (income inequality before taxes and transfers) and income redistribution via taxes and transfers on inequality in longevity. METHODS: We used life tables to compute Gini coefficients of longevity inequality for all individuals and for individuals who survived to at least 10 years of age. We regressed longevity inequality on market income inequality and income redistribution, and we controlled for potential confounders, in a cross-sectional time-series sample of up to 28 predominantly Western developed countries and up to 37 years (1974-2011). RESULTS: Income inequality before taxes and transfers was positively associated with inequality in the number of years lived; income redistribution (the difference between market income inequality and income inequality after taxes and transfers were accounted for) was negatively associated with longevity inequality. CONCLUSIONS: To the extent that our estimated effects derived from observational data are causal, governments can reduce longevity inequality not only via public health policies, but also via their influence on market income inequality and the redistribution of incomes from the relatively rich to the relatively poor.
OBJECTIVES: We examined the effects of market income inequality (income inequality before taxes and transfers) and income redistribution via taxes and transfers on inequality in longevity. METHODS: We used life tables to compute Gini coefficients of longevity inequality for all individuals and for individuals who survived to at least 10 years of age. We regressed longevity inequality on market income inequality and income redistribution, and we controlled for potential confounders, in a cross-sectional time-series sample of up to 28 predominantly Western developed countries and up to 37 years (1974-2011). RESULTS: Income inequality before taxes and transfers was positively associated with inequality in the number of years lived; income redistribution (the difference between market income inequality and income inequality after taxes and transfers were accounted for) was negatively associated with longevity inequality. CONCLUSIONS: To the extent that our estimated effects derived from observational data are causal, governments can reduce longevity inequality not only via public health policies, but also via their influence on market income inequality and the redistribution of incomes from the relatively rich to the relatively poor.
Authors: John Lynch; George Davey Smith; Sam Harper; Marianne Hillemeier; Nancy Ross; George A Kaplan; Michael Wolfson Journal: Milbank Q Date: 2004 Impact factor: 4.911
Authors: Roman Pabayo; Alexandre D P Chiavegatto Filho; Maria Lúcia Lebrão; Ichiro Kawachi Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-07-18 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Addi P L van Bergen; Judith R L M Wolf; Mariam Badou; Kimriek de Wilde-Schutten; Wilhelmina IJzelenberg; Hanneke Schreurs; Bouwine Carlier; Stella J M Hoff; Albert M van Hemert Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2019-06-01 Impact factor: 3.367