Language:

The public health effect of economic crises and alternative policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis

The Lancet (British edition), 2009-07, Vol.374 (9686), p.315-323 [Peer Reviewed Journal]

Elsevier Ltd ;2009 Elsevier Ltd ;2009 INIST-CNRS ;Copyright Elsevier Limited Jul 25-Jul 31, 2009 ;ISSN: 0140-6736 ;EISSN: 1474-547X ;DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61124-7 ;PMID: 19589588 ;CODEN: LANCAO

Full text available

Citations Cited by

Actions
1. Add to My Research
2. Remove from My Research
3. E-mail
4. Print
5. Permalink
6. Citation
7. EasyBib
8. EndNote
9. RefWorks
10. Delicious
11. Export RIS
12. Export BibTeX

Title:
The public health effect of economic crises and alternative policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis
Author: Stuckler, David, PhD ; Basu, Sanjay, PhD ; Suhrcke, Marc, Prof ; Coutts, Adam, PhD ; McKee, Martin, Prof
Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality ; Accidents, Traffic - trends ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Biological and medical sciences ; Cause of Death ; Community Health Planning ; Disease management ; Economic conditions ; Economic crisis ; Economic growth ; Economic indicators ; Economic trends ; Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic ; Europe - epidemiology ; European Union - statistics & numerical data ; GDP ; General aspects ; Gross Domestic Product ; Health behavior ; Health Expenditures - trends ; Health Policy - trends ; Health promotion ; Health Status ; Homicide - trends ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Labor law ; Medical sciences ; Middle Aged ; Miscellaneous ; Mortality ; Mortality - trends ; Multivariate Analysis ; Population Surveillance ; Public health ; Public Health - economics ; Public Health - trends ; Public health. Hygiene ; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine ; Purchasing power parity ; Recessions ; Regression Analysis ; Studies ; Suicide - trends ; Unemployment ; Unemployment - trends ; Young Adult
Is Part Of: The Lancet (British edition), 2009-07, Vol.374 (9686), p.315-323
Description: Summary Background There is widespread concern that the present economic crisis, particularly its effect on unemployment, will adversely affect population health. We investigated how economic changes have affected mortality rates over the past three decades and identified how governments might reduce adverse effects. Methods We used multivariate regression, correcting for population ageing, past mortality and employment trends, and country-specific differences in health-care infrastructure, to examine associations between changes in employment and mortality, and how associations were modified by different types of government expenditure for 26 European Union (EU) countries between 1970 and 2007. Findings We noted that every 1% increase in unemployment was associated with a 0·79% rise in suicides at ages younger than 65 years (95% CI 0·16–1·42; 60–550 potential excess deaths [mean 310] EU-wide), although the effect size was non-significant at all ages (0·49%, −0·04 to 1·02), and with a 0·79% rise in homicides (95% CI 0·06–1·52; 3–80 potential excess deaths [mean 40] EU-wide). By contrast, road-traffic deaths decreased by 1·39% (0·64–2·14; 290–980 potential fewer deaths [mean 630] EU-wide). A more than 3% increase in unemployment had a greater effect on suicides at ages younger than 65 years (4·45%, 95% CI 0·65–8·24; 250–3220 potential excess deaths [mean 1740] EU-wide) and deaths from alcohol abuse (28·0%, 12·30–43·70; 1550–5490 potential excess deaths [mean 3500] EU-wide). We noted no consistent evidence across the EU that all-cause mortality rates increased when unemployment rose, although populations varied substantially in how sensitive mortality was to economic crises, depending partly on differences in social protection. Every US$10 per person increased investment in active labour market programmes reduced the effect of unemployment on suicides by 0·038% (95% CI −0·004 to −0·071). Interpretation Rises in unemployment are associated with significant short-term increases in premature deaths from intentional violence, while reducing traffic fatalities. Active labour market programmes that keep and reintegrate workers in jobs could mitigate some adverse health effects of economic downturns. Funding Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, King's College, London, UK; and Wates Foundation (UK).
Publisher: Kidlington: Elsevier Ltd
Language: English
Identifier: ISSN: 0140-6736
EISSN: 1474-547X
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61124-7
PMID: 19589588
CODEN: LANCAO
Source: ProQuest One Psychology
MEDLINE
ProQuest Central

Back to results list


INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY	(84-028) 37 755 057	Feedback
19 Nguyen Huu Tho St. Dist.7, HCM	thuvien@tdtu.edu.vn	Feedback

The public health effect of economic crises and alternative policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis

Elsevier Ltd ;2009 Elsevier Ltd ;2009 INIST-CNRS ;Copyright Elsevier Limited Jul 25-Jul 31, 2009 ;ISSN: 0140-6736 ;EISSN: 1474-547X ;DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61124-7 ;PMID: 19589588 ;CODEN: LANCAO

Searching Remote Databases, Please Wait