Did mass privatisation really increase post-communist male mortality?

Christopher J. Gerry, Tomasz Mickiewicz, Zlatko Nikoloski

Research output: Preprint or Working paperWorking paper

Abstract

A recent article in the Lancet, by David Stuckler, Larry King and Martin McKee, investigated anew the fluctuations in adult male mortality rates that have come to characterise the so-called post-communist mortality crisis. Adopting a cross-country, time-series perspective the authors examined how the economic policy strategies of the 1990s impacted upon observed fluctuations in mortality. They conclude that the adoption of a strategy of rapid (mass) privatisation contributed to the adverse mortality trends. We subject that finding to closer scrutiny using the same data from which the Stuckler et al claim stems. We find that their claim that mass privatisation adversely affected male mortality trends in the post-Communist world does not stand up to closer examination. It is not supported empirically and is at odds with what we know about both transition in the post-communist world and about health trends over time in this region.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationLondon (UK)
PublisherUniversity College London
Number of pages15
Volume103
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2010

Publication series

NameEconomics working paper
PublisherUCL SSEES : Centre for comparative economics
No.103

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