Life expectancy at birth, estimated from United States period life tables, has been shown to vary systematically and widely by region and race. We use the same tables to estimate the probability of survival from birth to age 70 (S70), a measure of mortality more sensitive to disparities and more...

This paper contains an exploration of some of the special or general benefits that might explain the widespread pursuit of national health insurance follows. The primary purpose of this inquiry has been to attempt to explain the popularity of national health insurance around the world

The 1992 eighth grade mathematics test of the National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals a low average level of achievement, wide variation across states, and a large difference in average scores of white and black students. Multiple regression analysis across states indicates that the...

This paper discussed the prospects for female earnings relative to male earnings. The determinants of the general level of earnings (female and male) are not considered. I concentrate on hourly earnings as being the best measure of the price of labor from both the demand and supply points of...

This paper presents the first systematic estimates of the direct money costs of reproduction-related health services. In 1982 Americans spent approximately $17.7 billion for contraception, abortion, treatment of infertility, obstetrical care, and infant care. This represented 5.5 percent of...

Sex differences in mortality (SDIM) vary over time and place as a function of social, health, and medical circumstances. The magnitude of these variations, and their response to large socioeconomic changes, suggest that biological differences cannot fully account for sex differences in survival....

This paper describes changes in hours of work and income between 1959 and 1979 of women and men ages 25-64. It includes attempts to measure and value nonmarket production and leisure as well as market work, to take account of possible income-sharing within households, and to allow for economies...

This paper reports the results of an exploratory survey designed to measure differences in time preference across individuals and to test for relationships between time preference and schooling, health behaviors, and health status. Approximately 500 adults age 25-64 were surveyed by telephone....

The Medicare trust funds face huge prospective deficits by the end of this decade.This paper discusses trends in six areas that bear on the Medicare problem: the number of the elderly, their health status, use of medical care, labor force participation, income, and living arrangements. Among the...

Data from the 1960, 1970, and 1980 Censuses of Population and theCurrent Population Surveys of 1980 and 1985 are used to describe and analyzethe economic position of children with special emphasis on cross-sectiondifferences and variation over time in the incidence of poverty. Between1959 and...