title: Good times make you sick.
abstract: This study uses microdata from the 1972-1981 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) to examine how health status and medical care utilization fluctuate with state macroeconomic conditions. Personal characteristics, location fixed-effects, general time effects and (usually) state-specific time trends are controlled for. The major finding is that there is a counter-cyclical variation in physical health that is especially pronounced for individuals of prime-working age, employed persons, and males. The negative health effects of economic expansions persist or accumulate over time, are larger for acute than chronic ailments, and occur despite a protective effect of income and a possible increase in the use of medical care. Finally, there is some suggestion that mental health may be procyclical, in sharp contrast to physical well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Bryan School, University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), P.O. Box 26165, Greensboro, NC 27402-6165, USA. c.ruhm@uncg.edu
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ruhm
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013995:Time; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology