Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Papers,
Örebro University, School of Business
No 2006:8: Don’t Go Breaking your Heart: Do Economic Upturns Really Increase Heart Attack Mortality?
Mikael Svensson ()
Additional contact information
Mikael Svensson: Department of Business, Economics, Statistics and Informatics, Postal: Örebro University, Department of Business, Economics, Statistics and Informatics, SE - 701 82 ÖREBRO, Sweden
Abstract: Several recent papers in the literature have found that short-term economic upturns are bad for your health (a pro-cyclical effect). In this paper I explore the relationship between business cycles and incidence and mortality in acute myocardial infarction (heart attacks) in Sweden. The sample consists of 21 Swedish regions during the period 1987 to 2003. Results from the panel data estimations indicate that the business cycle effect is insignificant on overall rates of incidence and mortality. However, a counter-cyclical and significant effect is found in most specifications for those in prime working age between 20 and 49. It is also shown that a higher share of women, highly educated and non-foreigners decrease incidence and mortality. Further it is shown that results are sensitive to different business cycle proxies as well as different model specifications and previous results from the literature cannot be taken as universal for other countries or settings.
Keywords: Mortality; Incidence; Heart attacks; Business cycles; Health
21 pages, First version: November 1, 2006. Revised: November 1, 2006.
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