Room: Phillips 403
Time: Tue 15:00 PM-16:30 PM

New Evidence on an Old Question: How Do Recessions Affect Health and Health Care Use?

Chair: Troy Quast (Sam Houston State University)

Session Description

These papers contribute to our understanding of an often asked question--how is health affected by bad economic times? The novelty of the first paper is that it examines differences by race in the connection between mortality and recession that may be masked in aggregate data that have been analyzed so far. The second paper, by Nicholson and Simon, adds very recent data from the current recession into this debate. Finally, the third paper finds that the relationship between mortality and economic fluctuations oscillated in the 1968 – 2003 period. All three papers fit the theme of the conference as they examine how recessions affect health outcomes, health care, and health behavior. Given the recent dramatic shift in economic conditions, these papers may provide some timely insight into the public health consequences

Key Terms None

Session Organizer: Troy Quast (Sam Houston State University)

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Presentations

1. Are Recessions Good for Everyone's Health? The Association Between Mortality and the Business Cycle by Race in the U.S.

   Presenter: Fidel Gonzalez (Sam Houston State University)

   Discussant: Coady Wing (Syracuse University)

2. How Is the Current Recession Affecting Health and Related Activities of Americans?

   Presenter: Kosali Simon (Cornell University)

   Discussant: Ralph Bradley (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

3. Mortality and Macroeconomic Fluctuations in Contemporary Sweden

   Presenter: José A. Tapia Granados (University of Michigan)

   Discussant: Fidel Gonzalez (Sam Houston State University)