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Author: search.filters.author.Theodossiou, IoannisEnd date: 2009

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    Controlling for endogeneity in the health-socioeconomic status relationship of the near retired
    (2009-12-01) Bender, Keith A; Theodossiou, Ioannis; University of Aberdeen.Economics
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    Your job or your life? The uncertain relationship of unemployment and mortality
    (2007-07-02T08:34:08Z) Bender, Keith A.; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    Contrary to the epidemiological literature, some studies find that increases in unemployment decrease mortality. Using US state level data on unemployment, mortality and other covariates for 1974 to 2003, this paper revisits this issue by, first, allowing for transitory and permanent effects of unemployment and, second, by allowing for cross-panel correlations. The results show that most mortality measures increase with contemporaneous unemployment and indicate that increases in long-run unemployment increase mortality.
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    Do Economic Inequalities Harm Health? Evidence from Europe
    (2007-03-07T11:56:00Z) Etienne, Jean-Michel; Skalli, Ali; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    Until recently, there has been a consensus among empirical health economists that there is an association between income inequality and individual health, in line with Wilkinson’s (1992) idea that the psychosocial effects of the former are detrimental to the latter. However, using US data, Mellor and Milyo (2002) (MM) found no evidence of such association and claimed that the previously reported results are statistical artefacts, arising from the use of aggregate data. This paper uses the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) to check the robustness of MM results. It replicates the MM methodology to assess the effect of country-level income inequality on individuals’ health. It is shown that income inequality, whether measured at the regional or the national level, systematically harms individuals’ health, regardless of their positions in the income distribution. The results are also robust to a number of aspects MM do not account for. First, random effect models are estimated to account for unobserved heterogeneity. Second, self-assessed and objective measures of health status are also considered. Third, besides the traditional aggregate measures of income inequality, a further measure is constructed reflecting first, how unequal the distribution is and second the relative position of individuals in the income distribution of their own country.
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    The health hazards of unemployment and poor education: the socioeconomic determinants of health duration in the European Union
    (2007) Cooper, D.; McCausland, W. David; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    The effect of socioeconomic status on the likelihood that an individual enters a period of poor health is examined using an Accelerated Failure Time methodology. This study employs data from the European Community Household Panel for the years 1994-2002 across 13 European countries, using the Physical and Mental Health Problems, Illnesses and Disabilities measure of physical health. Some socioeconomic status indicators do impact on the length of time an individual remains in good health – these being unemployment, which has a negative effect, and education, which has a positive effect – but others, such as income, have far less of an impact. Age and gender effects are also found.
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    Are Recessions Harmful to Health After All? Evidence from the European Union
    (2007-03-07T11:22:37Z) Economou, Athina; Nikolaou, Agelike; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    This paper investigates the effects of national unemployment rates on overall age and cause-specific mortality rates in a panel sample of 13 European Union countries. A fixed-effects model is used to control for unobserved time-invariant characteristics within countries. In addition, controls such as lifestyle risk factors, urbanisation and medical intervention indicators, for potential confounders are used. Contrary to some recent evidence this study shows that there is a strong, positive relationship between adverse economic conditions and the mortality.
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    Past Unemployment Experience and Health Status
    (2007-03-07T11:15:36Z) Economou, Athina; Nikolaou, Agelike; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    This paper explores the relationship between individual past unemployment experience and alternative measures of individual health state after controlling for a number of current characteristics and current socio-economic status. Three alternative indicators of past unemployment status are used namely; the number and the duration of past unemployment spells. The study finds a cumulative effect of prolonged past unemployment experience on current individual health status. It also finds that those who are wealthier are also healthier. Finally the different institutional and cultural frameworks prevailing across different E.U countries appear to affect the health - past unemployment experience relationship.
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    Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Utilization: A Study of the Effects of Low Income, Unemployment and Hours of Work on the Demand for Health Care in the E.U.
    (2007-03-07T11:11:04Z) Economou, Athina; Nikolaou, Agelike; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    The purpose of this study is to shed light on the individual socio-economic status (SES) and demographic determinants of the demand for health care in a cross-comparison study of nine E.U. countries. It focuses on the effects of the individual employment status on alternative indicators of demand for health care that constitutes a largely unexplored area. The evidence supports the existence of an employment status- demand for health care relationship although it varies with respect to the type of health care examined and the institutional and environmental settings of the countries utilised in the study.
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    Image and Reality: the Case of Job Satisfaction
    (AIAS, Amsterdam Institute of Labour Studies, University of Amsterdam, 2006-03-10) Ferrer-i-Carbonell, Ada; Van Praag, Bernard M.S.; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    This study makes a distinction between two types of utility. Experienced utility is defined as the job satisfaction derived from the present job, estimated by using a subjective evaluation of job satisfaction. Anticipated utility is defined as the individual’s anticipated job satisfaction before starting the job and it is studied by using a stated preference methodology known as conjoint analysis. The results suggest that the two utility concepts are different. Information about experienced utility is useful for the evaluation of well-being policies and the welfare effects of various employer strategies. Anticipated utility provides knowledge about the job search process.
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    Should I stay or Should I Go? The effect of Gender, Education and Unemployment on Labour Market Transitions
    (2007-03-07T10:45:26Z) Theodossiou, Ioannis; Zangelidis, Alexandros
    The literature on job mobility patterns and search behaviour has highlighted significant gender differences. Women on average appear to suffer a higher risk of redundancy or dismissal, they exhibit a lesser commitment to the labour market activity, and they are relatively less mobile than men (Theodossiou, 2002). They are also more likely to exit employment for employee-initiated reasons, namely a family or personal reason, in contrast to men who are more likely to exit employment for an employer-initiated reason such as layoff or dismissal (Keith and McWilliams, 1997). However, although women are more likely to exit employment for a voluntary reason compared to men, men are more likely to be engaged in on-the-job search aiming at voluntary job mobility compared to women (Parson, 1991; van Ophem, 1991; Keith and McWilliams, 1999). The primary reason for these gender differences in the labour market behaviour are the societal constraints associated with women’s dominant role in childcare. Hersch and Stratton (1997) show that women, especially married women, spend three times more time engaged in household activities and are substantially more prepared to quit their job for a family-related reason than men are (Keith and McWilliams, 1997; Theodossiou, 2002).
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    Is Unemployment harmful to health? Evidence from Britain
    (2007-03-07T10:36:55Z) Cooper, D.; McCausland, W. David; Theodossiou, Ioannis
    This paper investigates the effects of unemployment on health in Britain. It examines the effects of socio-economic variables on the duration of spells of good health by using an accelerated failure time model. Two different measures of health are used, self-assessed health and mobility problems (an objective health index based on a modified 'activities of daily living' index). Furthermore, the paper analyses whether socio-economic effects on good health duration vary between males and females and between the older and younger workforce. The analysis takes into account the role of lifestyle factors. It is found that employment status, education and income have significant effects on the duration of spells of good health. Importantly, unemployment adversely affects the duration of spells of good health, and income exerts a significant positive effect.