The Impacts of Business Cycle on Mortality, Health Status and Health Behaviors

• Main Authors: Yan-Jhang Chen, 陳彥彰
• Other Authors: Meng-Wen Tsou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/84269779742837995511

碩士 === 國立中央大學 === 產業經濟研究所 === 104 === Since Brenner(1971) first proposed that human health was pro-cyclical, many studies try to examine the relationship between health and business cycle. But due to the difference of data and methodologies, there's still no clear conclusions. This study uses the unemployment rate at city/county level as a proxy for business cycle. I utilize both city/county- and individual-level data to measure health indicators. In city/county-level, I use the 2000-2013 death rate from Ministry of Interior and the cause of death collected from Ministry of Health and Welfare. In the individual-level, I use the self-reported health data collected from Survey Research Data Archive (SRDA) covering 1993-2013. There are three main findings. First, the rise in unemployment rate is associated with worse physical health conditions, but is less relevant to death. Second, there are different impacts between male and female. Males tend to have more unhealthy behaviors than females, such as drinking and smoking. But males are more likely to reduce alcohol and cigarette consumption. Third, marriage and education are also key factors. People who had colleague education are less likely to have insomnia, anxiety and are more confident. Married people tend to be more confident and hopeful, and healthier.