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Cited by 1,486Employment and Welfare StudiesUnemployment and Economic GrowthSuicide and Self-Harm Studies

The public health effect of economic crises and alternative policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis

Stuckler, David, Basu, Sanjay, Suhrcke, Marc, Coutts, Adam, McKee, Martin·2009·The Lancet
DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(09)61124-7
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Abstract

Background There is widespread concern that the present economic crisis, particularly its effect on unemployment, will adversely affect population health. We investigated how economic changes have affected mortality rates over the past three decades and identified how governments might reduce adverse effects.Methods We used multivariate regression, correcting for population ageing, past mortality and employment trends, and country-specific differences in health-care infrastructure, to examine associations between changes in employment and mortality, and how associations were modified by different types of government expenditure for 26 European Union (EU) countries between 1970 and 2007.Findings We noted that every 1% increase in unemployment was associated with a 0.79% rise in suicides at ages younger than 65 years (95% CI 0.16-1.42; 60-550 potential excess deaths [mean 310] EU-wide), although the effect size was non-significant at all ages (0.49%, -0.04 to 1.02), and with a 0.79% rise in homicides (95% CI 0.06-1.52; 3-80 potential excess deaths [mean 40] EU-wide). By contrast, road-traffic deaths decreased by 1.39% (0.64-2.14; 290-980 potential fewer deaths [mean 630] EU-wide). A more than 3% increase in unemployment had a greater effect on suicides at ages younger than 65 years (4.45%, 95% CI 0.65-8.24; 250-3220 potential excess deaths [mean 1740] EU-wide) and deaths from alcohol abuse (28.0%, 12.30-43.70; 1550-5490 potential excess deaths [mean 3500] EU-wide). We noted no consistent evidence across the EU that all-cause mortality rates increased when unemployment rose, although populations varied substantially in how sensitive mortality was to economic crises, depending partly on differences in social protection. Every US$10 per person increased investment in active labour market programmes reduced the effect of unemployment on suicides by 0.038% (95% CI -0.004 to -0.071).Interpretation Rises in unemployment are associated with significant short-term increases in premature deaths from intentional violence, while reducing traffic fatalities. Active labour market programmes that keep and reintegrate workers in jobs could mitigate some adverse health effects of economic downturns.Funding Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, King's College, London, UK; and Wates Foundation (UK).

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Authors
Stuckler, D., Basu, S., Suhrcke, M., Coutts, A., & McKee, M.
Affiliations
  • San Francisco General Hospital (US)
  • University of East Anglia (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (BE)
ORCID
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-07
Volume
374
Issue
9686
Pages
315-323
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
DOI
10.1016/s0140-6736(09)61124-7
OpenAlex
W2146860307
Cited by
1,486
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 146 · 2020: 115 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 87 · 2017: 95 · 2016: 111 · 2015: 119 · 2014: 183 · 2013: 101 · 2012: 77
FWCI
125.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Bocconi (submittedVersion)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (submittedVersion)
  • UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • World Bank Group
  • Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Employment and Welfare Studies
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Unemployment and Economic Growth
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Keywords
unemployment, economic crisis, mortality, suicide, homicide, traffic fatalities, alcohol-related mortality, social protection, active labour market programmes, government spending, unemployment insurance, public health policy, premature mortality, EU member states, population aging, health infrastructure, health disparities
MeSH terms
Accidents, Traffic, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Cause of Death, Europe, European Union, Health Expenditures, Health Policy, Health Status, Homicide, Humans, Middle Aged, Mortality, Population Surveillance, Public Health, Regression Analysis, Suicide, Unemployment, Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic, Multivariate Analysis, Age Distribution, Community Health Planning, Young Adult

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