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International Journal for Equity in Health

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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Economic crisis and health inequalities: evidence from the European Union

Authors: Laia Maynou, Marc Saez

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

The recent economic crisis has been a major shock not only to the economic sector, but also to the rest of society. Our main objective in this paper is to show the impact of the economic crisis on convergence, i.e. the reduction or equalising of disparities, among the EU-27 countries in terms of health. The aim is to observe whether the economic crisis (from 2008 onwards) has in fact had an effect on health inequalities within the EU.

Methods

We estimate convergence by specifying a dynamic panel model with random-effects (time, regions and countries). We are particularly interested in σ-convergence. As dependent variables, we use life expectancy, total mortality and (cause-specific) mortality in the regions of the EU-27 countries over the period 1995–2011.

Results

The results of the analysis show that, in terms of health, there has been a catching-up process among the EU regions. However, we find no reduction, on average, in dispersion levels as the σ-convergence shows. The main finding of this paper has been the sharp increase in disparities in 2010 for all health outcomes (albeit less abrupt for cancer mortality).

Conclusion

This increase in disparities in 2010 coincides with the austerity measures implemented in the EU countries. Our main conclusion is that these austerity measures have had an impact on socioeconomic inequalities.

That is to say, \( CV=E\left({y}_{ijt}\right)/{\left(Var\left({y}_{ijt}\right)\right)}^{{\scriptscriptstyle \frac{1}{2}}} \), both estimated in model (1). Also note that this calculation can only be done easily following a Bayesian approach, where it is easier to make inferences about functions of parameters and/or predictions, in particular when the function is non-linear, as is in our case (i.e. the dependent variables in (1-2) were non-linear functions of the health variables).

We have a preliminary estimation of all models allowing variation on the three levels (country/time) for all coefficients. In the specification shown, we have provided only the best final models. In particular, we use as selection criteria, the statistical significance of random effect and the Watanabe Information Criterion [35]. Results not shown can be requested from the authors.

Since models differ in the dependent variable to be explained, in the explanatory variables associated (statistically significant) with the dependent variable and the random effects (also statistically significant), the estimators of the coefficients for the same explanatory variable differ between models.

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Title: Economic crisis and health inequalities: evidence from the European Union
Authors: Laia Maynou
Marc Saez
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0425-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Economic crisis and health inequalities: evidence from the European Union

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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