Crisi economica e riduzione del reddito: effetti sullo stato di salute

The global economic and financial crisis which began in the US in the summer of 2007 and spread to Europe in the following months is considered by many the worst recession since the Great Depression. There is a widespread concern among stakeholders that the present economic downturn will adversely affect public health contributing to mental health problems and to the adoption of less healthy lifestyles, and that the health care systems performance will be compromised by increased demand for treatment in a time when governments are under pressure to reduce public spending. This chapter combines newly available longitudinal individual level data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (share) with an aggregate regional level indicator of economic activity to investigate the relationship between macroeconomic environment, measured by the regional employment rate, negative income shocks and the physical and mental health of older Europeans in the context of economic instability. Physical and mental health are key dimensions of wellbeing, especially at older ages. Understanding how they might be affected by economic conditions during the crisis is crucial for policymakers facing the challenge of reducing government spending while dealing with demographic changes that require enabling older people to take an active part in society and to enjoy an independent and good quality of life as they age.