Convergence of life expectancy in the European Union: a Markov approach

Abstract

Given efforts of integration within the European Union (EU), convergence of life expectancies in member-states should be observed. A Markov approach classifying 15 EU member-states is applied to OECD data covering 1980 to 1989 and 1989 to 1998. The dynamics of cross-sectional distributions and the pace of their transitional processes are analyzed. In the 1980s slow convergence can be observed, whereas in the 1990s convergence is close to non-existent. Markov modelling shows that EU member states did not continue to converge in life expectancy following 1989, suggesting that efforts of socio-economic integration do not affect this public health indicator.

Acknowledgements

This study has been supported by the GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management. No financial interests are related to this study. The authors wish to thank Prof. Dr. Rolf Holle and Dr. Jürgen John for their support.