title: Stagnating Life Expectancies and Future Prospects in an Age of Uncertainty*
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article provides a timely assessment of U.S. life expectancy given recent stalls in the growth of length of life, the continuing drop in international rankings of life expectancy for the U.S., and during a period of growing social and economic insecurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time series analysis is used on over 70 years of data from the Human Mortality Database to forecast future life expectancy to the year 2055.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show limited improvements in U.S. life expectancy at birth, less than 3 years on average, for both men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even in uncertain times, it is important to look forward in preparing for the needs of future populations. The results presented here underscore the relevance of policy and health initiatives aimed at improving the nation's health and reveal important insight into possible limits to mortality improvement over the next five decades.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Rice University.
authors.forename: Justin T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Denney
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, International Affairs Program, and Population Program University of Colorado at Boulder.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNown
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Population Program, University of Colorado at Boulder.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Population Program, University of Colorado at Boulder.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doubilet
keywords: health; inequality; life expectancy; mortality