title: In search of a contemporary theory for understanding mortality change.
abstract: This paper represents a speculative approach to the question of changing mortality levels in human populations. The surprising resilience and reluctance of mortality declines to respond to powerful countervailing is considered. A more integrated approach is proposed to examine the interactive roles of income, technology and behavior in relation to life expectancy. The paper concludes by a discussion of the relevance of the accumulation of health assets to national mortality levels.
authors.affiliation: Havard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, MA 02138.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors