The transition from good to poor health: an econometric study of the older population

• Published in: Journal of health economics 2004-09, Vol.23 (5), p.1013-1034
• Main Authors: Buckley, Neil J., Denton, Frank T., Leslie Robb, A., Spencer, Byron G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - pathology; Canada; Canada - epidemiology; Econometric models; Economic status; Effects; Elderly people; Empirical tests; Female; Health; Health administration; Health economics; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Income; Income - statistics & numerical data; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Econometric; Morbidity; Older people; Older population; Panel data; Panel studies; Polls & surveys; Population economics; Poverty; Public health; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Social status; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic factors and health; Studies; Urban Population
• ISSN: 0167-6296; 1879-1646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2004.03.001

This is a study of the influence of socioeconomic factors on the state of health of older Canadians. Three years of panel data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics are used to model the transition probabilities between good and poor health. Care is taken to avoid the problem of endogeneity of income in modelling its effects, and to adjust reported income to free it from its strong association with age at the time of the survey. Of particular note are the significant effects found for income, in spite of universal public health care coverage. Significant effects are found also for age, education, and other variables.