Municipal health expectancy in Japan: decreased healthy longevity of older people in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas

BACKGROUND: Little is known about small-area variation in healthy longevity of older people and its socioeconomic correlates. This study aimed to estimate health expectancy at 65 years (HE65) at the municipal level in Japan, and to examine its relation to area socio-demographic conditions. METHODS: HE65 of municipalities (N = 3361) across Japan was estimated by a linear regression formula with life expectancy at 65 years and the prevalence of those certificated as needing nursing care. The relation between HE65 and area socio-demographic indicators was examined using correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The estimated HE65 (years) ranged from 13.13 to 17.39 for men and from 14.84 to 20.53 for women. HE65 was significantly positively correlated with the proportion of elderly and per capita income, and negatively correlated with the percentage of households of a single elderly person, divorce rate, and unemployment rate. These relations were stronger in large municipalities (with a population of more than 100,000) than in small and medium-size municipalities. CONCLUSION: A decrease in healthy longevity of older people was associated with a higher percentage of households of a single elderly person and divorce rate, and lower socioeconomic conditions. This study suggests that older people in urban areas are susceptible to socio-demographic factors, and a social support network for older people living in socioeconomically disadvantaged conditions should be encouraged

Special Study on Cigar Tobacco: A Report of a Study Group of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Excerpts from the Preface: At its annual meeting held January 24-27, 1961, the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Tobacco Research and Marketing Advisory Committee recommended that a study be initiated to determine the effect on the cigar industry and tobacco farmers if supplies of Cuban tobacco were no longer available; also, the effect of a change in duty rates. The Committee assigned a high priority to the project. A study group comprised of representatives of several agencies in the Department has devoted as much effort as feasible to this problem over the last several months. An understanding of the problems that would emerge if Cuba were no longer a source of tobacco requires accurate information and statistics on the cigar industry and its market, and on the production and specific use of the many domestic and imported cigar tobaccos. Since there has been a conspicuous lack of some of these important factual materials, it has been necessary for the group to focus its attention on the development of an adequate factual base, and a large portion of this report sets forth the results. In addition, cigar consumption and the total leaf requirements are projected some years into the future; some probable effects if Cuban tobacco became unavailable are discussed. Certain problems touched on in the Committee's recommendations, such as alternative foreign sources and their relation to rates of duty, would require longer range research and additional staff. In preparing this report, the study group sought the advice of representative growers, cigar manufacturers, importers, and dealers. The information and opinions gained in this manner have been highly useful in bringing to light various aspects of the total problem that otherwise might have been neglected

Special Study on Cigar Tobacco: A Report of a Study Group of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Excerpts from the Preface: At its annual meeting held January 24-27, 1961, the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Tobacco Research and Marketing Advisory Committee recommended that a study be initiated to determine the effect on the cigar industry and tobacco farmers if supplies of Cuban tobacco were no longer available; also, the effect of a change in duty rates. The Committee assigned a high priority to the project. A study group comprised of representatives of several agencies in the Department has devoted as much effort as feasible to this problem over the last several months. An understanding of the problems that would emerge if Cuba were no longer a source of tobacco requires accurate information and statistics on the cigar industry and its market, and on the production and specific use of the many domestic and imported cigar tobaccos. Since there has been a conspicuous lack of some of these important factual materials, it has been necessary for the group to focus its attention on the development of an adequate factual base, and a large portion of this report sets forth the results. In addition, cigar consumption and the total leaf requirements are projected some years into the future; some probable effects if Cuban tobacco became unavailable are discussed. Certain problems touched on in the Committee's recommendations, such as alternative foreign sources and their relation to rates of duty, would require longer range research and additional staff. In preparing this report, the study group sought the advice of representative growers, cigar manufacturers, importers, and dealers. The information and opinions gained in this manner have been highly useful in bringing to light various aspects of the total problem that otherwise might have been neglected

Income of Farm Operator Families by Value of Sales Class

Excerpt from the report: Distributions of the number of farms and realized gross and net income of farm operators from farming according to value of sales classes for the years 1959-63 are shown for the first time in tables 1D through 4D on pages 22-25 in this issue. Also shown for the first time (table 5D), by value of sales classes, are average per farm operator family of realized net income, income from off-farm sources and the total income from both sources combined. The estimates of income of farm operators from farming operations by value of sales classes are consistent with, and are breakdowns of, the farm income estimates regularly published in the July issue of the Farm Income Situation. Income from "off-farm" sources includes all income received by farm operators and family members from sources other than the farm operated

Government's Role in Pricing Fluid Milk in the United States

Excerpts from the report: Government participation in the pricing of fluid milk in the United States was inaugurated on a rather broad scale in the early 1930's. A number of States enacted legislation to stabilize milk markets in an attempt to raise prices for milk. The Federal Government entered the fluid milk pricing field following passage of the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933. Expansion of Government participation in milk pricing was slow in the late 1930's and little growth occurred during the 1940's. However, during the last ten years, the role of Governments in pricing milk has increased rapidly. As of July 1, 1962, a total of 83 Federal milk marketing orders were in effect in the United States. Dynamic changes in the production and marketing of milk are responsible for the increased demand by producers and other elements in the dairy industry for Government participation in milk pricing

Food Price Changes--U.S. And Foreign

Excerpts from the report: Although retail food and average consumer prices in the United States have risen gradually since 1958, the rates of increase have been much less than those in most other countries. Between 1958 and 1965, retail food prices in the United States increased 7 percent, slightly less than the increase for the entire Consumer Price Index which rose by 9 percent. The increase in food prices in the United States contrasted sharply with price increases in Argentina and Brazil, two countries that experienced hyperinflation. Since 1958, food price increases in Argentina (up 700 percent) and Brazil (up 2,000 percent) outpaced the rise in their CPI's and were far above those reported by any other country. Other countries which experienced substantial food price increases included Yugoslavia, Spain, China-Taiwan, Japan, India, Philippines, Finland, and Sweden. Countries with only slightly more of an increase in their food prices than the United States since 1958 included Honduras, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Canada, and France. At least three countries--Ceylon, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia--reported a slower rise in food prices than the United States. Over the 1958-65 period, food prices increased only 1 percent in Ceylon and 3 percent in Hungary; Czechoslovakia reported a 2-percent drop between 1958 and 1964

Supplement for 1961 to Consumption of Food in the United States, 1909-52

Excerpts from the report Introduction: This supplement contains a set of revised tables matching those published in the original handbook. The revised tables supersede those contained in the handbook and in all previous Supplements. Tables in this Supplement carry the same numbers as those in the original handbook. Revisions result from (1) addition of data for recent years, (2) incorporation of data developed from reports of the 1954 and 1958 Census of Manufactures and the 1954 and, unless otherwise indicated, the 1959 Census of Agriculture. Per capita data have been, since 1957, derived by using unadjusted population data of the Bureau of Census

Governments' Role in Pricing Fluid Milk in the United States

Excerpts from the report: Government participation in pricing fluid milk was widely inaugurated in the early 1930's. A number of States enacted legislation to stabilize milk markets in an attempt to raise milk prices. The Federal Government entered fluid milk pricing following passage of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933. The system of Federal milk orders has been steadily expanding for more than a quarter century. There were 17 milk orders in 1940, and in 1950, there were 39. By 1962, the number had increased to 83. Consolidation of several orders and termination of 2 orders reduced the number to 76 on March 1, 1965. As of this date, 20 States had laws authorizing the establishment of milk prices. In addition, a number of States without milk control laws are indirectly affecting milk prices through regulation of such trade practices as those relating to selling products below cost, price discrimination, granting discounts, or rebates. Most States with milk pricing regulations regulate trade practices to obtain compliance with resale prices. The influence of Federal and State milk pricing activities goes well beyond the areas actually controlled. About 90 percent of the milk meeting the sanitary eligibility standards for fluid use is priced under either Federal milk orders or State milk control laws. However, fluid milk prices in many markets not covered by Federal or State measures are influenced by prices established in areas under government control

The Import Situation for Beef and Veal

Cattlemen have experienced recurring price difficulties in the fed cattle market in recent years. During the same period, imports of beef and veal have been increasing. Because of growing imports and price pressures in the fed cattle market, questions have been raised whether imports are the primary cause of lower fed cattle prices. This statement attempts to summarize some of the relevant considerations relating to this concern of the cattle industry

Government's Role in Pricing Fluid Milk in the United States

Excerpts from the report: Government participation in the pricing of fluid milk in the United States was inaugurated on a rather broad scale in the early 1930's. A number of States enacted legislation to stabilize milk markets in an attempt to raise prices for milk. The Federal Government entered the fluid milk pricing field following passage of the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933. Expansion of Government participation in milk pricing was slow in the late 1930's and little growth occurred during the 1940's. However, during the last ten years, the role of Governments in pricing milk has increased rapidly. As of July 1, 1962, a total of 83 Federal milk marketing orders were in effect in the United States. Dynamic changes in the production and marketing of milk are responsible for the increased demand by producers and other elements in the dairy industry for Government participation in milk pricing