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Measuring the compression of mortality

Author

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  • Väinö Kannisto

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Demografische Forschung)

Abstract

Compression of mortality is measured here in four ways: (1) by standard deviation of the age at death above the mode; (2) by standard deviation of the age at death in the highest quartile; (3) by the inter-quartile range; and (4) by the shortest age interval in which a given proportion of deaths take place. The two first-mentioned are directed at old ages while the other two measure compression over the entire age range. The fourth alternative is recommended as the most suitable for general use and offers several variations, called the C-family of compression indicators. Applied to historical and modern populations, all four measures show convincingly that the secular transition from high to low mortality has been accompanied by general and massive compression of mortality. In recent decades, however, this development has come close to stagnation even when life expectancy continues to increase. This has happened at a level where compression is still so incomplete that the shortest age interval in which 90 percent of deaths occur, is more than 35 years. It seems unrealistic to expect human mortality ever to be compressed into so narrow an age interval that the survival curve would be even approximately rectangular. It is considered useful to monitor changes in the compression of mortality because the indicators describe relevant aspects of the length of life and may acquire new significance as indicators of population heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Väinö Kannisto, 2000. "Measuring the compression of mortality," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 3(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:3:y:2000:i:6
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2000.3.6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Keyfitz, N., 1978. "Improving life expectancy: an uphill road ahead," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 68(10), pages 954-956.
    2. James Vaupel & Kenneth Manton & Eric Stallard, 1979. "The impact of heterogeneity in individual frailty on the dynamics of mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 16(3), pages 439-454, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mortality; length of life; mortality analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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