Economic policies can reduce deaths of despair William H. Dow, Anna Godøy, Chris Lowenstein, Michael Reich

Summary:
Policymakers and researchers have sought to understand the causes of and effective policy responses to recent increases in mortality due to alcohol, drugs, and suicide in the US. This column examines the role of the minimum wage and the earned income tax credit – the two most important policy levers for raising incomes for low-wage workers – as tools to combat these trends. It finds that both policies significantly reduce non-drug suicides among adults without a college degree, and that the effect is stronger among women. The findings point to the role of economic policies as important determinants of health. Suggests the importance not only of welfare policy as a whole, but also one that includes a job guarantee compensated at a living wage in terms of wages and benefits.VOX.eu Economic

Topics:
Mike Norman considers the following as important: economics and public health, economics and sociology, economics and welfare

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