Three studies on life expectancy and lifespan inequality
type: CreativeWork
description: While life expectancy is a key indicator in public health and demography, it may obscure unequal experiences of different population groups. By contrast, lifespan inequality captures variations in age at death, offering a broader view of health disparities. Focusing on lifespan inequality enables policymakers and researchers to identify vulnerable populations, design more equitable health and social policies, and evaluate progress toward reducing inequities. This thesis is comprised of three interrelated studies that examine life expectancy and lifespan inequality from different perspectives. The first study explores state-level variations in life expectancy and lifespan inequality in the US over a 55-year period, employing Theil’s entropy index to measure lifespan inequality and a Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) model to assess associated socioeconomic and demographic factors. The analysis reveals a significant negative correlation between life expectancy and lifespan inequality across states. Educational attainment, health insurance coverage, and physician density show negative associations with lifespan inequality, whereas violent crime rates, smoking prevalence, and income inequality exhibit positive associations. The second study investigates the impact of homicide on life expectancy and lifespan inequality at the state level in the US from 1968 to 2020, focusing on demographic, socioeconomic, and policy determinants. Utilizing data from the US Mortality Database and cause-eliminated life tables and Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) models, the study reveals that Southern states experience the most substantial impacts on both life expectancy and lifespan inequality, while the Northeast exhibits comparatively lower effects. Males consistently face greater impacts than females. Key findings underscore systemic inequities: a higher percentage of Black populations and individuals aged 25–34 correlate with greater homicide-related reductions in life expe…
abstract: While life expectancy is a key indicator in public health and demography, it may obscure unequal experiences of different population groups. By contrast, lifespan inequality captures variations in age at death, offering a broader view of health disparities. Focusing on lifespan inequality enables policymakers and researchers to identify vulnerable populations, design more equitable health and social policies, and evaluate progress toward reducing inequities. This thesis is comprised of three interrelated studies that examine life expectancy and lifespan inequality from different perspectives. The first study explores state-level variations in life expectancy and lifespan inequality in the US over a 55-year period, employing Theil’s entropy index to measure lifespan inequality and a Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) model to assess associated socioeconomic and demographic factors. The analysis reveals a significant negative correlation between life expectancy and lifespan inequality across states. Educational attainment, health insurance coverage, and physician density show negative associations with lifespan inequality, whereas violent crime rates, smoking prevalence, and income inequality exhibit positive associations. The second study investigates the impact of homicide on life expectancy and lifespan inequality at the state level in the US from 1968 to 2020, focusing on demographic, socioeconomic, and policy determinants. Utilizing data from the US Mortality Database and cause-eliminated life tables and Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) models, the study reveals that Southern states experience the most substantial impacts on both life expectancy and lifespan inequality, while the Northeast exhibits comparatively lower effects. Males consistently face greater impacts than females. Key findings underscore systemic inequities: a higher percentage of Black populations and individuals aged 25–34 correlate with greater homicide-related reductions in life expe…
author: Wijesinghe, Jayani
license: https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstreams/ce974920-db4b-4b63-bf9b-f3c6bc74a2ca/download
date published: 2025
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:57:27Z
provider: University Waikato
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: The University of Waikato