Job Loss: Eat, drink and try to be merry?

TitleJob Loss: Eat, drink and try to be merry?
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsDeb, P, Gallo, WT, Ayyagari, P, Fletcher, JM, Sindelar, JL
Series TitleNBER Working Paper
Document Number15122
InstitutionThe National Bureau of Economic Research
CityCambridge, MA
Call Numbernewpubs20090908_w15122.pdf
KeywordsEmployment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status
Abstract

This paper examines the impact of job loss from business closings on body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption. We improve upon extant literature by using: exogenously determined business closings, a sophisticated estimation approach (finite mixture models) to deal with complex heterogeneity, and national, longitudinal data (Health and Retirement Study). For both alcohol consumption and BMI, we find evidence that individuals who are more likely to respond to job loss by increasing unhealthy behaviors are already in the problematic range for these behaviors before losing their jobs. Thus health effects of job loss could be concentrated among at risk individuals.

DOI10.3386/w15122
Endnote Keywords

Job Loss/Body Mass Index/Alcohol Drinking

Endnote ID

20750

Citation Key5747