In this study, we obtain insights into the impact of early-life conditions on old-age mortality in Italy. We capture cohorts' life conditions by means of mortality rates at different early-life stages and exploit exogenous variation provided by a series of abrupt mortality events which severely affected specific cohorts. We also test whether lifetime income – approximated by the amount of the pension benefit - is health protective against bad circumstances experienced in early life. Early-life conditions have a long-lasting effect on males' mortality. Results suggest the existence of a considerable “scarring” effect: the death probability of a male born in 1932 alive at age 65 is 15% lower than that of a male born at the beginning of the XX-th century due to improved early-life conditions. For females, we do not find a significant impact of early-life conditions. We do not find evidence that income is health protective. On the contrary, we find that especially mortality of richer individuals is affected by circumstances in early life.

Early-life conditions, lifetime income and mortality risk in Italy

BELLONI, MICHELE;
2012-01-01

Abstract

In this study, we obtain insights into the impact of early-life conditions on old-age mortality in Italy. We capture cohorts' life conditions by means of mortality rates at different early-life stages and exploit exogenous variation provided by a series of abrupt mortality events which severely affected specific cohorts. We also test whether lifetime income – approximated by the amount of the pension benefit - is health protective against bad circumstances experienced in early life. Early-life conditions have a long-lasting effect on males' mortality. Results suggest the existence of a considerable “scarring” effect: the death probability of a male born in 1932 alive at age 65 is 15% lower than that of a male born at the beginning of the XX-th century due to improved early-life conditions. For females, we do not find a significant impact of early-life conditions. We do not find evidence that income is health protective. On the contrary, we find that especially mortality of richer individuals is affected by circumstances in early life.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/43966
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