title: The last recession was good for life expectancy.
abstract: Most people think that economic growth and a good economy are prerequisites for good health and high life expectancy. As such, a recession should decrease life expectancy or stop it from rising. In fact, recessions can boost life expectancy. This was the case during the Great Depression in the United States from 1929 to 1932 and during the recession in the European Union in 2009. In 2009, life expectancy increased most rapidly in European countries where the decrease in gross domestic product was greatest-Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Studies of life expectancy increasing during recessions can yield valuable information regarding extending average life expectancy without essential costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment and Safety, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia. ulo.kristjuhan@tseba.ttu.ee
authors.forename: Ulo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kristjuhan
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taidre
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003132:Commerce; D003710:Demography; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007844:Latvia; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011203:Poverty; D011634:Public Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors