Work

Is It Psychologically Dangerous to Live in a Rich Area? Evidence From Census‐Matched Micro Data on Suicides in England and Wales

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This paper reports a new test of relative‐deprivation theory. Research into the potential consequences of relative comparisons has in the past had to rely almost exclusively on subjective data on wellbeing. With information that was released under strict confidentiality requirements by the U.K. Office for National Statistics, we here report the first econometric results that are able to draw upon a full set of census‐matched micro‐level records with register data on suicides in England and Wales. We find that suicide risk is greatest, ceteris paribus, in rich areas. This result, which is consistent with a role for invidious relative comparisons, runs counter to a long‐standing belief in the literature that risk is higher in deprived areas.

Source: Review of Income and Wealth

DOI: 10.1111/roiw.70095

Authors: Caspar Kaiser, Ekaterina Oparina, Andrew J. Oswald

Institutions: University of Warwick, University of Oxford, London School of Economics and Political Science

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,300