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Changes in socioeconomic differentials in old age life expectancy in four Nordic countries: the impact of educational expansion and education-specific mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Enroth

    (Tampere University)

  • Domantas Jasilionis

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research)

  • Laszlo Németh

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research)

  • Bjørn Heine Strand

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health
    The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust
    Oslo University Hospital)

  • Insani Tanjung

    (Tampere University)

  • Louise Sundberg

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Stockholm University)

  • Stefan Fors

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Stockholm University)

  • Marja Jylhä

    (Tampere University)

  • Henrik Brønnum-Hansen

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

Overall progress in life expectancy (LE) depends increasingly on survival in older ages. The birth cohorts now reaching old age have experienced considerable educational expansion, which is a driving force for the social change and social inequality. Thus, this study examines changes in old age LE by educational attainment in the Nordic countries and aims to find out to what extent the change in national LEs is attributable to education-specific mortality and the shifting educational composition. We used national register data comprising total 65 + populations in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to create period life tables stratified by five-year age groups (65–90 +), sex and educational attainment. Difference in LE between 2001 and 2015 was decomposed into the contributions of mortality changes within each educational group and changes in educational composition. Increasing LE at all ages and in all educational groups coincided with persistent and growing educational inequalities in all countries. Most of the gains in LE at age 65 could be attributed to decreased mortality (63–90%), especially among those with low education, the largest educational group in most countries. The proportion of the increase in LE attributable to improved education was 10–37%, with the highest contributions recorded for women in Norway and Sweden. The rising educational levels in the Nordic countries still carry potential for further gains in national LEs. However, the educational expansion has contributed to uneven gains in LE between education groups, which poses a risk for the future increase of inequalities in LE.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Enroth & Domantas Jasilionis & Laszlo Németh & Bjørn Heine Strand & Insani Tanjung & Louise Sundberg & Stefan Fors & Marja Jylhä & Henrik Brønnum-Hansen, 2022. "Changes in socioeconomic differentials in old age life expectancy in four Nordic countries: the impact of educational expansion and education-specific mortality," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 161-173, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:19:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10433-022-00698-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00698-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Linda Enroth & Marijke Veenstra & Marja Aartsen & Agnete Aslaug Kjær & Charlotte Juul Nilsson & Stefan Fors, 2019. "Are there educational disparities in health and functioning among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 415-424, December.
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    3. Olof Östergren & Olle Lundberg & Barbara Artnik & Matthias Bopp & Carme Borrell & Ramune Kalediene & Mall Leinsalu & Pekka Martikainen & Enrique Regidor & Maica Rodríguez-Sanz & Rianne de Gelder & Joh, 2017. "Educational expansion and inequalities in mortality—A fixed-effects analysis using longitudinal data from 18 European populations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Arun S. Hendi, 2017. "Trends in Education-Specific Life Expectancy, Data Quality, and Shifting Education Distributions: A Note on Recent Research," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(3), pages 1203-1213, June.
    5. Louise Sundberg & Neda Agahi & Johan Fritzell & Stefan Fors, 2018. "Why is the gender gap in life expectancy decreasing? The impact of age- and cause-specific mortality in Sweden 1997–2014," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(6), pages 673-681, July.
    6. Evgeny M. Andreev & Vladimir M. Shkolnikov & Alexander Z. Begun, 2002. "Algorithm for decomposition of differences between aggregate demographic measures and its application to life expectancies, Gini coefficients, health expectancies, parity-progression ratios and total ," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2002-035, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
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    1. Celina Janene Cathro & Tormod Brenn & Sairah Lai Fa Chen, 2023. "Education Level and Self-Reported Cardiovascular Disease in Norway—The Tromsø Study, 1994–2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-10, May.
    2. Ana C. Gómez-Ugarte & Víctor M. García-Guerrero, 2023. "Inequality Crossroads of Mortality: Socioeconomic Disparities in Life Expectancy and Life Span in Mexico Between 1990 and 2015," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(4), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Aimée Hartford Kvæl, Linda & Gautun, Heidi, 2023. "Social inequality in navigating the healthcare maze: Care trajectories from hospital to home via intermediate care for older people in Norway," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).

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