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Dynamics of the coefficient of variation of the age at death distribution

Author

Listed:
  • Jacob Martin

    (Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED))

  • Jose Manuel Aburto

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Iñaki Permanyer

    (Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics (CED))

Abstract

Background: Indicators of lifespan inequality, such as the life table entropy or variance of age at death, provide a measure of inequality in the timing of death. A range of indicators of relative and absolute inequality exist, and their evolution over time and sensitivity to changes in age-specific mortality have been studied. However, the coefficient of variation, a relative indicator defined as the standard deviation divided by the mean of the age at death distribution, has yet to be studied, and the existence and form of the threshold age has not been determined. Results: As with other lifespan inequality indicators, changes in the coefficient of variation can be written as a weighted sum of changes in age-specific mortality rates, and a unique threshold age exists. The threshold for the coefficient of variation occurs later than that of its absolute counterpart, the standard deviation, a result verified for other pairs of relative and absolute indicators. Empirical applications show differing trajectories over time of the threshold age for different countries and different educational groups. Conclusions: Change over time of the coefficient of variation can be expressed in a similar way to other indicators and provides a way to study the sensitivity of the indicator to changes in mortality. Although empirical applications show a similar trajectory for the threshold age of the coefficient of variation as for other indicators, the differences between them can be substantial. Contribution: We formally determine the threshold age for the coefficient of variation and contextualize the sensitivities and threshold ages of lifespan inequality indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob Martin & Jose Manuel Aburto & Iñaki Permanyer, 2023. "Dynamics of the coefficient of variation of the age at death distribution," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 49(38), pages 1063-1086.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:49:y:2023:i:38
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2023.49.38
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    1. Chiara Micheletti & Francisco Villavicencio, 2024. "On the relationship between life expectancy, modal age at death, and the threshold age of the life table entropy," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 51(24), pages 763-788.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    lifespan inequality; mathematical demography; threshold age; sensitivity analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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