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Income Inequality and Mortality: A Norwegian Perspective

Author

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  • Bütikofer, Aline

    (Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

  • Karadakic, René

    (Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

  • Salvanes, Kjell Gunnar

    (Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

Abstract

While Norway has experienced income growth accompanied by a large decline in mortality during the past several decades, little is known about the distribution of these improvements in longevity across the income distribution. Using municipalitylevel income and mortality data, we show that the stark income gradient in infant mortality across municipalities in the 1950s mostly closed in the late 1960s. However, the income gradient in mortality for older age categories across municipalities persisted until 2010 and only flattened thereafter. Further, the infant mortality gap between rich and poor Norwegian families based on individual-level data persisted several decades longer than the gap between rich and poor municipalities and only finally closed in the early 21st century.

Suggested Citation

  • Bütikofer, Aline & Karadakic, René & Salvanes, Kjell Gunnar, 2021. "Income Inequality and Mortality: A Norwegian Perspective," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 4/2021, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:nhheco:2021_004
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    Cited by:

    1. James Banks & Janet Currie & Sonya Krutikova & Kjell G. Salvanes & Hannes Schwandt, 2021. "The Evolution of Mortality Inequality in 11 OECD Countries: Introduction," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 9-23, March.
    2. Brandily, Paul & Brébion, Clément & Briole, Simon & Khoury, Laura, 2021. "A poorly understood disease? The impact of COVID-19 on the income gradient in mortality over the course of the pandemic," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    3. Paul Brandily & Clément Brébion & Simon Briole & Laura Khoury, 2021. "A Poorly Understood Disease? The Evolution of the Income Gradient in Excess Mortality Due to COVID-19 within Urban Areas," Working Papers halshs-03154551, HAL.
    4. James Banks & Sarah Cattan & Lucy Kraftman & Sonya Krutikova, 2021. "Mortality Inequality in England over the Past 20 Years," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 47-77, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mortality; Income Inequality;

    JEL classification:

    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General

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