Research Briefs·Feb 27, 2024

Lives vs. Livelihoods: The Impact of the Great Recession on Mortality and Welfare

Recessions reduce mortality, driven largely by the external health effects of reduced economic activity (such as decreases in air pollution); this substantially reduces the welfare cost of recessions, particularly for older people and workers with less education.
Amy Finkelstein, Matthew J. Notowidigdo, Frank Schilbach, and Jonathan Zhang
Based on BFI Working Paper No. 2024-14, “Lives vs. Livelihoods: The Impact of the Great Recession on Mortality and Welfare”
¹Ruhm, Christopher J, “Are Recessions Good for Your Health?” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2000, 115 (2), 617–650.
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