The Causal Effects of Place on Health and Longevity

Journal of Economic Perspectives—Volume 35, Number 4—Fall 2021—Pages 147–170 The Causal Effects of Place on Health and Longevity Tatyana Deryugina and David Molitor igh life expectancy is a hallmark of economic development. Between 1960 igh life expectancy is a hallmark of economic development. Between 1960 and 2018, life expectancy at birth in the United States increased by nine and 2018, life expectancy at birth in the United States increased by nine H H years, from 69.7 to 78.7 years (Bastian et al. 2020). This average masks years, from 69.7 to 78.7 years (Bastian et al. 2020). This average masks large and persistent geographic differences in mortality and life expectancy within large and persistent geographic differences in mortality and life expectancy within the United States (Murray et al. 2006; Chetty et al. 2016; Currie and Schwandt 2016; the United States (Murray et al. 2006; Chetty et al. 2016; Currie and Schwandt 2016; Dwyer Dwyer-Lindgren -Lindgren et al. et al. 2017; Mokdad 2017; Mokdad et al. et al. 2018; W 2018; Woolf oolf and Schoomaker and Schoomaker 2019). 2019). For example, life expectancy is more than 10 years higher in the top 1 percent of For example, life expectancy is more than 10 years higher in the top 1 percent of counties by life expectancy compared to the bottom 1 percent of counties (Dwyer counties by life expectancy compared to the bottom 1 percent of counties (Dwyer-- Lindgren et Lindgren et al. 2017). The geographic variation in life expectancy is particularly al. 2017). The geographic variation in life expectancy is particularly large among individuals in the lowest quartile of income (Chetty et al. 2016). large among individuals in the lowest quartile of income (Chetty et al. 2016). In this essay, we begin with an overview of geographic differences in life expectancy across the United States and Europe. We then discuss the problems with seeking to either infer underlying place health...