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A new study led by Raj Chetty suggests geographic location plays an outsized role in life expectancy for lower earners.
According to the study from Stanford University, the top one per cent of earners live on average 15 years longer than those in the bottom one per cent.
Interestingly though, the analysis that was led by professor of economics Raj Chetty, suggests that the longer life spans can’t necessarily be linked to better access to health care of drugs.
Although medical care is important, writes Time, it is not as important as behaviours that can affect health.
This is where the second part of the study comes in.
Comparing life expectancy of people on lower incomes in different parts of the United States, it concluded that the environment you live has an influence on how long you live.
Chetty’s study proved that lower income people in cities like New York or San Francisco lived longer than those in Detroit or Tulsa.
Why is this?
Although no definitive answer could be provided, a theory was put forward that certain cities could experience a greater trickle down effect on policies that improve public health.
For example, smoking bans in public places, removal of unhealthy ingredients in food, etc…
‘Inequalities in life expectancy across areas are more likely explained by different behaviors rather than access to life-saving medical care,’ Chetty.said.
‘The big picture message is that there is a lot of talk about inequality at a national level, but this paper shows that in the context of health, for one of the most important outcomes, life expectancy, the debate should be a local one.’
Agencies/Canadajournal
