The evolution of longevity: Evidence from Canada

In: The Canadian journal of economics: the journal of the Canadian Economics Association = Revue canadienne d'économique, Band 54, Heft 1, S. 164-192

Abstract

AbstractCanadian men in the top earnings ventile live eight years (11%) longer than do men in the bottom ventile. For women, the difference is 3.6 years. This earnings–longevity gradient has shifted uniformly across earnings groups through time, in stark contrast to in the US. We demonstrate that the widely used period measurement method can differ from cohort measures. For middle‐aged men, we find a recent slowdown of mortality improvements, echoing the situation in the US. With comparable data, the Canadian earnings–longevity gradient is half the US gradient; but one quarter of this gap may result from Canada–US earnings differences.