Mortality and Lifetime Income: Evidence from U.S. Social Security Records
IMF Working Papers, January 1, 2007
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- Mortality and Lifetime Income: Evidence from U.S. Social Security Records
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: John S. Greenlees, James E. Duggan, Robert Gillingham
- Published: January 1, 2007
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451865790.001
Summary
- Studies of the empirical relationship between income and mortality often rely on data aggregated by geographic areas and broad population groups and do not distinguish disabled and nondisabled persons.
- This study investigates the relationship between individual mortality and lifetime income with a large micro data base of current and former retired participants in the U. S. Social Security system.
- Logit models by gender and race confirm a negative relationship between lifetime income and mortality.
- Differences in age of death between low and high lifetime income are on the order of two to three years.
- Income-related mortality differences between blacks and whites are largest at low-income levels.
- Gender differences in mortality appear to be large and persistent across income levels.
Data and Methods
- Data source: large micro data base of current and former retired participants in the U. S. Social Security system (individual-level Social Security records).
- Empirical approach: Logit models estimated separately by gender and race.
Key Findings and Quantitative Points
- Differences in age of death between low and high lifetime income: on the order of two to three years.
- Income-related mortality differences between blacks and whites: largest at low-income levels.
- Gender differences: large and persistent across income levels.