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Spatial and economic patterns in life expectancy among US States

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  • Nikos Benos
  • Sotiris Karkalakos
  • Stefania Zotou

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of gender-specific life expectancy across US states over the period 1995–2007. We employ a production function specification where life expectancy depends on health expenditure, income, education and lifestyle variables, allowing for spatial effects. Empirical results suggest that education attainment and health expenditure are the main factors behind improving longevity, whereas smoking bears a strong negative influence. For robustness purposes, we also use health spending as well as education criteria, apart from geographical ones to model interstate spillovers. In the former case, states with similar health expenditure are ‘neighbors’ and affect positively the life expectancy process. If education is applied instead of health spending together with geographic proximity, the spatial correlation is insignificant, i.e. education ‘neighbors’ do not affect life expectancy. Our findings do not imply significant gender differences regarding health production. The results suggest that health care policy will have to focus on wider economic and social considerations, like education and lifestyle changes, except medical care provision in order to exploit the full potential for life expectancy improvements of the US population.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikos Benos & Sotiris Karkalakos & Stefania Zotou, 2019. "Spatial and economic patterns in life expectancy among US States," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(54), pages 5856-5869, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:51:y:2019:i:54:p:5856-5869
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2019.1630706
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    Cited by:

    1. Pilar Gracia-de-Rentería & Hugo Ferrer-Pérez & Ana Isabel Sanjuán & George Philippidis, 2023. "Live and let live: understanding the temporal drivers and spillovers of life expectancy in Europe for public planning," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 24(3), pages 335-347, April.
    2. Dobis, Elizabeth A. & Stephens, Heather M. & Skidmore, Mark & Goetz, Stephan J., 2020. "Explaining the spatial variation in American life expectancy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    3. Gracia De Renteria, Pilar & Ferrer Perez, Hugo & Philippidis, George & Sanjuan Lopez, Ana Isabel, 2021. "Capturing the drivers of social SDGs: An econometric analysis of the dimensions of health and education," Conference papers 333271, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    4. Michael Cauvel & Miguel Alejandro Sanchez, 2023. "Life Expectancy and the Labor Share in the U.S," Working Papers PKWP2308, Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES).
    5. Jin-Li Hu & Min-Yueh Chuang & Shang-Ho Yeh, 2023. "A Dynamic DEA Analysis of Health Output Efficiencies of Cities and Counties in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Arusha Cooray & Krishna Chaitanya Vadlamannati & Indra de Soysa, 2020. "Do bigger health budgets cushion pandemics?: An empirical test of COVID-19 deaths across the world," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-165, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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