Drinking, Drugs, and Depression: Economic Mobility and White Middle-Aged Mortality

Case and Deaton (2015) documented an increase in mortality among uneducated, middle aged, white Americans by suicide, alcohol and drug poisoning, and liver disease. Is there a causal relationship between the increase in... [ view full abstract ]

Case and Deaton (2015) documented an increase in mortality among uneducated, middle aged, white Americans by suicide, alcohol and drug poisoning, and liver disease. Is there a causal relationship between the increase in mortality among middle-aged white Americans and decreasing economic mobility throughout US counties? In this study I explore the relationship between economic mobility and this rise in mortality among this specific demographic group. I hypothesize that individuals in the group of study make decisions based on their future economic prospects. In societies with low mobility, individuals may see less opportunity for economic advancement and the relative opportunity cost of engaging in harmful physical activity is low. Our current economic structure supports this hypothesis. Employment in traditional middle class jobs, such as manufacturing, has fallen, so that there are fewer middle class opportunities relative to those for the upper and lower classes. In the past, uneducated, middle-aged white Americans would have been included in the middle class, but today our economy no longer has the capacity to include them. This change in expectations can induce significant amounts of stress and push people to make unhealthy choices, making it a a potential driver for the marked increase in mortality.