The associations between suicides, economic conditions and social isolation: insights from Spain

Suicide is among the main challenges that need to be addressed in developed countries. In this paper, we analyse suicides across the 17 Spanish regions over the period 2014-2019. More precisely, our objective is to re-study the determinants of suicides focusing on the latest economic expansion period. We use count panel data models and sex stratification. A range of aggregate socioeconomic regional-level factors have been identified. Our empirical results show that: (1) a socioeconomic urban-rural suicide gaps exist; (2) there are significant gender differences, for the women a Mediterranean suicide pattern appears whereas unemployment levels have a significant importance for men, (3) social isolation factors, when significant, they show an (a priori) surprisingly positive result. We provide new highlights for suicide prevention in Spain. Precisely, it is highlighted that jointly policies by gender and attending to vulnerable groups are both necessary

Do the unemployed hit the bottle during economic downturns? An empirical approach for Spain

Background: This paper analyses the 2008 economic collapse in Spain with its long-lasting effects. Precisely, the ones associated with lifestyles. Thus, the aim of this paper is to examine to what extent economic downturns affect individual’s drinking behavior when focusing on unemployed people. Methods: We use discrete-choice models and matching techniques. Data from the National Health Survey for 2006 and 2011–2012 provides a clear picture before and after the 2008 breakdown in Spain. Results: We find that drinking over the business cycle is a function of individual socio-demographic status. Besides, our empirical findings are consistent with the idea that following the crisis differences between unemployed and non-unemployed fell to at least in accordance with a lower overall consumption of alcoholic beverages. Conclusions: Public policy design for drinkers would require both prevention and recovery from alcohol use strategies to be met towards health and labour pillars.Ministerio de Educación | Ref. FPU AP-2012- 0415

Patient Cross-Border Mobility: New Findings and Implications in Spanish Regions

Spain has a National Health Service with a mixed public-private funded system. In the last decades, a huge effort has gone into reducing barriers to patient migration. We estimate a panel data based on a gravity model of migration since the process of health care decentralization has been completed in Spain. Our empirical results show that income is one of the most important drivers in explaining mobility as well as supply variables. Individual characteristics are not among the main factors for mobility. Besides, it is demonstrated there is a quality-driven mobility in Spain. However, there was no significant difference in the influence on patients? mobility between those living in the North of the country and the Mediterranean regions. The empirical results also suggest that current regional health policies in Spain, that explain patients? mobility, should be associated with greater funding system

Experiencia comparada europea y el reto de la descentralización sanitaria

En este trabajo se analizan las principales características de los modelos de descentralización sanitaria en Europa prestando especial atención a los determinantes de los resultados en salud y gasto así como se propone un modelo econométrico explicativo de su comportamiento y evolución, utilizando datos de panel. Los resultados muestran que el factor más importante en la explicación del volumen de gasto sanitario tanto estática como dinámicamente es la renta, mientras que otros factores de demanda y de oferta así como el grado de descentralización o tipo de sistema sanitario, también influyen pero son menos importantes. En cambio, en resultados en salud la descentralización tiene un efecto más dispar frente al resto de factores

Okun's Law in Selected European Countries (2005-2017): An Age and Gender Analysis

ABSTRACT. In this paper the robustness of the Okun's relationship is tested using data from a group of selected European countries during the period 2005-2017, considering different age cohorts and gender. Four macroareas based on geographic location are also considered: Continental Europe, Nordic countries, Southern Europe, and Anglo-Saxon countries. Two traditional models are applied, the first difference and the "gap" one. The relevant data for the latter model is constructed from the HodrickPrescott filter. The empirical results indicate that an inverse relationship between unemployment and output holds for the whole sample and subsamples. Besides, it can be highlighted that these countries show smaller output loss associated with higher unemployment. Additionally, our findings suggest that the oldest population tends to be less exposed to the business cycles. Meanwhile, slight differences along countries and macro-areas are found. Therefore, as disparities in productivity growth are showed, different policies are required for each area. Actually, policymakers should design various ways to increase employment opportunities for diverse groups in society (specific coordinated policies for each necessity): those on specific age cohorts, those working in particular economic activities or those living in specific countries or macro-regions

Social isolation and multiple chronic diseases after age 50: A European macro-regional analysis

Background. Different studies have found that socioeconomic determinants influence the prevalence of chronic diseases in older people. However, there has been relatively little research on the incidence of how social isolation may affect them. We suggest that social isolation is a serious concern for people living with chronic illnesses. Method In this paper, we examine whether there is an increase in the propensity of being diagnosed with chronic illnesses because of a decrease in social relations for elderly Europeans. We have used a panel data for Waves 1±6 (2004±2015) of Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and logistic regressions. Besides, we have studied three geographic macro-areas (Nordic, Continental and Southern). Being diagnosed with three or more chronic diseases is considered as a dependent variable, and as social control variables we have used three isolation proxies (living alone, providing help to family, friends or neighbours and participation-club activities). Other socio-demographic variables are included (gender, age, educational level, job situation, area of location and quality of life). Results. Our results for the full sample indicate that people who participate in social activities have fewer probability of suffering from chronic diseases (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.54, 0.92). For people who live alone the reverse effect is observed (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.04, 1.39). Differences are shown by macro-areas, e.g. providing help (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.34, 0.97) isolation proxy is significant for the Nordic macro-area. Club-participation activities and living alone are significant for Continental and Southern macro-areas, respectively (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.55, 0.82; OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.21, 1.77). Conclusions. Social isolation increases the risk of being diagnosed with chronic illnesses. That is, people with greater social participation have lower risk of suffering from multiple chronic diseases

Unmet health care needs among the working-age population. Evidence from the great recession in Spain

ABSTRACT: In this paper we tested the hypothesis that unmet health care needs can be interpreted in terms of employment status of individuals. The latest cross-sectional health surveys for Spain (2006 and 2011-2012) were used. The econometric approach is based on a Probit model estimation. When controlling for differences in other socioeconomic characteristics, our results for Spain supported stronger association for health status than for employment status. Moreover, empirical evidence was found that working-age people reported less unmet needs in the Great Recession than previously. Findings should be considered first in light of the Spanish National Health Service, completely decentralized to regions, which provides universal coverage for all residents. Second in terms of the likely worsening health-care-attendance experienced throughout the crisis

What is Happening with Quality of Life Among the Oldest People in Southern European Countries? An Empirical Approach Based on the SHARE Data

Population aging in developed countries has created new challenges to improve the well-being of individuals at diferent age cohorts. This issue is especially signifcant for Southern European countries, were aging societies have worse health and less socioeconomic resources. The aim of this study is to contribute to this body of literature and to estimate the efect of aging on quality of life of oldest people. This paper uses the latest available data (6th wave) from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Specifcally, robust ordinary least squares and multilevel regressions are employed to analyse the efects of socioeconomic, health, and community factors on quality of life among the oldest population for Southern European countries. Our fndings confrm the signifcance of several factors on life satisfaction among the oldest population in this group of countries. Moreover, we show that the determinants which are correlated with quality of life include predisposing, health, geographic area and social isolation factors

Does social isolation affect medical doctor visits? New evidence among European older adults

ABSTRACT: We have used panel data (2004-2015) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to examine the impact of social isolation on general practitioner health care use. Socio-demographic, health and social isolation measures are analysed. Differences by welfare regimes have been also considered. Using two definitions of social isolation (Alone and Help), we have found that a sizeable proportion of those aged 50 years and older in Europe reported social isolation. Differences by welfare regimes are highlighted. Our findings provide several implications in current debates on the sustainability of welfare states

La promoción del uso de la información de la salud y las tecnologías de la comunicación en España: un nuevo enfoque basado en la TIC-H

ABSTRACT: The rapid growth of the use of new technologies is having an important effect on individuals’ health knowledge and behavior. The objective of this paper is to study the potential reduction in health care utilization associated with the expansion of new technologies. Using Spanish micro data from the Survey on the Equipment and Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT-H) in Households for 2014 we analyze information technologies equipment, availability of access and means of Internet connection per household. We model the probability of an individual being internet user in Spain as a function of a range of socio-economic characteristics, including individual’s gender, age, education and employment situation. Also, we hypothesized that a greater use of this communication technologies is related to a lesser health care expenditure.RESUMEN: El rápido crecimiento de la utilización de las nuevas tecnologías está teniendo un efecto importante en el conocimiento sanitario y comportamiento de las personas. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el potencial efecto reductor en la utilización de servicios sanitarios asociado a la expansión de estas nuevas tecnologías. Utilizando micro datos de la Encuesta sobre Equipamiento y Uso de Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación en los Hogares (TIC-H) para el año 2014 analizamos equipos de tecnologías de la información, la disponibilidad de acceso y los medios de conexión a Internet por hogar. Modelizamos para España la probabilidad de que un individuo sea usuario de Internet en función de una serie de características socio-económicas, incluyendo el género, la edad, el nivel educativo y la situación laboral. Se apoya la hipótesis de que un mayor uso de estas tecnologías de comunicación se relaciona con un menor gasto sanitario