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Community effects on elderly health: Evidence from CHARLS national baseline

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  • Smith, James P.
  • Tian, Meng
  • Zhao, Yaohui

Abstract

There is increasing interest in neighborhood or area effects on health and individual development. China, due to its vast regional variations in health infrastructure and geography and relative immobility of older residents, provides a rare opportunity to study such effects. Utilizing China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) baseline survey 2011–2012 which covered over 17,000 individuals in 450 randomly selected communities/villages, this paper addresses two questions: whether community/village characteristics matter for individual health and SES (Socio-Economic Status), and why they matter. Our statistical results indicate that community/village characteristics have strong associations with individual health and SES. We find that health infrastructure is important even after controlling for community income level. Using surface water increases the likelihood of worse health compared to tap water and even underground water. Compared to moving away by trucks, non-management of waste, and other management such as dump in local site or nearby water body are associated with worse health and SES outcomes. Toileting system without water has the worst influence on individual health and education achievements. Using hay or coal as cooking fuel has the largest negative effect on health and SES outcomes. Geography also plays a role. Extreme weather conditions cause people to be more depressed, and face severe difficulties in ADL (Activities of Daily Living) or IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) and other negative health conditions. Local landscapes also affect individual health and SES outcomes as mountainous and hilly areas exacerbate individual health status and SES outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Smith, James P. & Tian, Meng & Zhao, Yaohui, 2013. "Community effects on elderly health: Evidence from CHARLS national baseline," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 1, pages 50-59.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:1-2:y:2013:i::p:50-59
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2013.07.001
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    1. #HEJC papers for September 2013
      by academichealtheconomists in The Academic Health Economists' Blog on 2013-09-01 04:01:38

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    3. Shuai Zhou & Xiangying Ding & Janet Tsin Yee Leung, 2023. "Healthy Aging at Family Mealtimes: Associations of Clean Cooking, Protein Intake, and Dining Together with Mental Health of Chinese Older Adults amid COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Yuan S. Zhang & Eileen M. Crimmins, 2019. "Urban–rural differentials in age-related biological risk among middle-aged and older Chinese," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(6), pages 831-839, July.
    5. Lei, Xiaoyan & Sun, Xiaoting & Strauss, John & Zhao, Yaohui & Yang, Gonghuan & Hu, Perry & Hu, Yisong & Yin, Xiangjun, 2014. "Reprint of: Health outcomes and socio-economic status among the mid-aged and elderly in China: Evidence from the CHARLS national baseline data," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 4(C), pages 59-73.
    6. Ning Wei & Lülin Zhou & Wenhao Huang, 2022. "Does an upward intergenerational educational spillover effect exist? The effect of children’s education on Chinese parents’ health," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 69-89, March.
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    8. Liu, Ziheng & Lu, Qinan, 2023. "Invisible pollution and hypertension: Evidence from the aging population in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Community effects; Elderly health; SES; CHARLS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality

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