Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This paper examines the association between income, income inequalities and health inequalities in Europe. The contribution of this paper is to study different hypotheses linking self-perceived health status and income, allowing for the identification of different mechanisms in income-related health inequalities. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (15 countries), we take the advantage of the cross-sectional and longitudinal nature of this rich database to make robust results. The analyses (coefficient estimates as well as average marginal effects) strongly support two hypotheses by showing that (i) income has a positive and concave effect on health (Absolute Income Hypothesis); (ii) income inequalities in a country affect all members in a society (strong version of the Income Inequality Hypothesis). However, our study suggests that, when considering the position of the individual in the income distribution, as well as the interaction between income inequalities and these rankings, one cannot identify individuals the most affected by income inequalities (which should be the least well-off in a society according to the weak version of the Income Inequality Hypothesis). Finally, the robustness of this study is emphasized when implementing a generalized ordered probit to consider the subjective nature of the self-perceived health status to avoid the traps encountered in previous studies.
Source: Health Economics Review
Authors: Amélie Adeline, Eric Delattre
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $811
Awards: Multinational Advancement of Research Infrastructures on Ageing, G1330667123, G1428006373, G1750703574, G1778268290, G1820526844, G2077389594, G2343781458, G2465118858, G2496819784, G3166864496, G323020161, G3457581384, G3687180791, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC STATUS IN OLDER POPULATIONS, RAND Center for the Study of Aging, Upgrading the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe – preparatory phase, G4569152855, G4607009072, G4847675667, G5618942462, G598697797, DEVELOPING AN ISRAELI VERSION OF THE HRS/SHARE PROJECT, Longitudinal Enhancement and Access imProvement of the SHARE infrastructure, Understanding and Improving Healthcare Decision-Making and Outcomes for People Living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Health and Retirement Study: Yrs 35-40, G938892667, G939349750
OpenAlex ID: W2747119488