Τάσεις θνησιμότητας στην Ελλάδα της οικονομικής κρίσης και διαφοροποιήσεις κατά αίτια θανάτου
Mortality trends in Greece during the recent economic recession and differentials by cause of death
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Keywords
Τάσεις θνησιμότητας ; Ελλάδα ; ΘνησιμότηταAbstract
The Economic Recession of 2008 affected both the GDP and the employment rate, two macroeconomic phenomena which have been extensively analyzed in the literature. There is also the belief that health deteriorates when economic conditions worsen whereas it improves when economy strengthens. In this dissertation we study the phenomenon of mortality and the main causes of death in Europe.
Greece has suffered the largest decline in both GDP and employment, which have a direct impact on income that, in its turn, can affect health. We consider that Greece is an appropriate case to study the trend of mortality in the period. Hence, this paper studies mortality levels before and after the Economic Recession (comparing the periods 2007 – 2009 and 2011- 2013) by conducting an empirical study, utilizing the main mortality rates of the literature. More specifically, we utilize the crude death rate, age and sex specific mortality rates by cause of death as well as crude death rates by cause of death, through data obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
Based on the analysis of these indicators it seems that crisis has affected mortality in Greece. Typically, the impact on mortality is more apparent in accidents, which seem to be declining. Suicides, although low, are on rise after the recession combined with increases in mortality due to mental disorders. Neoplasms along with cardiovascular diseases remain among the leading causes of death in the general population for both sexes