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[The following is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
It sounds paradoxical, but in wealthy countries, there's nothing like a recession to boost the population's health. According to a report in the September 1st Canadian Medical Association Journal, when our paychecks get lighter, we do more than tighten our purse strings—we also cinch our belts, kick bad habits and manage to lower our mortality rates.
Economic growth is usually associated with increased life spans, but the report says that’s only true for very poor countries. Researchers looked at data from dozens of 20th century international health studies and found that, once per-capita income passed $5,000, recessions actually helped health. During lean times, people in relatively wealthy countries drink and smoke less and stop overeating. They also go out less, which means fewer trips in the car. It all adds up to fewer deaths from things like lung cancer, liver disease, heart attacks and car crashes.
The researchers say that fewer hours in the office can also mean more time with family and friends. These close social interactions lead to less stress and better health. Of course, some people may find more family time to be like a lot of good medicine—hard to swallow.
—Adam Hinterthuer
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15 Comments
Add CommentRecessions are usually so short it's hard to believe they can have any affect that lasts long enough to actually lower mortality rates.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMaybe it is. But we will find new ways to improve our life, right?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn a large enough statistical sample you can see the effects of some changes, like more or less driving, in a day. Look at holiday travel statistics, or before and after back-to-school, or a time change.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy understanding is that the beer consumption increases during a recession. People cancel their vacations, stay home and buy a sixpack instead. Also, a suicide rate increases, as the recession puts additional stress on the population that was living on the edge already.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPeople do not spend less time in the office: Those who are laid off spend zero time in the office and those who stay pick up their workload. Our paychecks do not get lighter; they either get to be zero, or stay the same. This article seems to be a lot of nonsense.
This is pure horse pucky. Its the opposite that happens. During a prolonged economic downturn, people use alcohol and tobacco more and their eating habits and lifestyles become less healthy. That's it, i'm done with this children's science mag.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think the recession helps to bring awareness to the people, that how should people carefully manage their money. I think it is more likely effective for those people who have a family.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJano_M and tulcak:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPlease compile and publish your data so we at the "children's science mag" can compare it with the findings reported in this study. Should your published, peer-reviewed data disprove the current findings, we will gladly report on your research.
its pointless. should we 'discuss' the reality or myth of global warming as well? A science magazine that is so much on the fence about global warming is one I cannot take seriously. he said, she said. in today's pop culture, you can prove anything. it is sad that the conservative movement has reduced intellectual discussion down to the level of using "designer" facts. if you have the backing of money and/or religion, you can prove anything by using "designer" facts manufactured (or simply repeated ad nauseam) by "scientific organizations". I also can't take a science magazine seriously that so obvious supports the use of traditional sources of energy instead of offering discussion, news, and support for new sources of energy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPlease explain how I can take SCIAM or any discussion therein serioulsy?
tulcak:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA quick perusal of the last 50 years of Scientific American will show that we are far from any fence regarding the reality of global warming, and anthropogenic global warming at that. The comment displays a gross ignorance of our long-time reportage on climate change.
That attempt at subject-changing having been dealt with, the issue at hand is the Canadian Medical Association Journal study on recesssions and health. The meta-study appears to be well-designed, researched and interpreted. We stand by our coverage of the information published by the researchers, regardless of challenges that information may pose to anyone's personal beliefs based on anecdote or limited observation.
and by the way, a real scientific magazine whose intent and purpose to present real science would have done this. even as an undergraduate, I was required to support my thesis or supposition. and since we are referring to a "science" magazine, this should be build into the psyche from the outset.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisbut, i suspect that this is not your aim. putting aside the past 50 years, publications change and the quality of their content does also,... depending on the ownership and the quality of their contributors. and yes, you can take this as a personal attack.
If a news report can be given any weight, beer consumption is indeed markedly up, wine consumption is stable, and hard liquor sales are down slightly. I would bet that smoking is also up. Those smokers who leave the office or other workplace only 2 or 3 times a day when employed, would tend to smoke more while idle.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTobacco sales may appear down but, speaking from personal experience, when unemployed I tend to seek out untaxed, black market smokes, as I have done since retiring. There is one hell of a difference between $30 -$40 per carton and $90+ per carton, when one is on a miserable wee pension and medicine, rent, and food prices are going through the roof as manufacturers and retailers seek to maintain high profits with fewer items sold.
A quick google found the study here: http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/181/5/281
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisConsidering this conversation is being had online, it's quite easy to just search for the referenced study - http://ow.ly/nWYa
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's rather harsh to deem an entire publication unscientific just because a link was missing from a podcast transcript page... Let's try to be civil here.
There is no doubt that recessions have an upside, it largely has to do with our response. This video demonstrates why some people prosper during recessions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMsw1_fsZ1g
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere are always people who thrive during a recession, this video makes it clear why and how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMsw1_fsZ1g
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