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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of macroeconomic fluctuations on mental health and psychotropic medicine consumption
AU - Martínez-Jiménez, M.
AU - Vall Castelló, J.
N1 - The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10754-020-09281-3
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - Our aim in this paper is to understand the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on mental health and psychotropic medicine consumption. In order to do that we exploit differences in the fluctuations of business cycle conditions across regional units in Catalonia. Our findings suggest that, in general, economic fluctuations at the local level had no significant effect on the consumption of psychotropic medicines. However, we show that a deterioration in local labour market conditions is associated with a reduction in the consumption of anxiolytics medicines. We also report an increase in the consumption of anxiolytics in regions with a softer deterioration in the economic situation. Although we report mild improvements in both mental and physical health for some sub-groups of the population, we also find significant reductions on the probability of sleeping 6 h or more. Thus, these elements point towards potential negative effects of local labour market conditions on health in the medium/long term.
AB - Our aim in this paper is to understand the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on mental health and psychotropic medicine consumption. In order to do that we exploit differences in the fluctuations of business cycle conditions across regional units in Catalonia. Our findings suggest that, in general, economic fluctuations at the local level had no significant effect on the consumption of psychotropic medicines. However, we show that a deterioration in local labour market conditions is associated with a reduction in the consumption of anxiolytics medicines. We also report an increase in the consumption of anxiolytics in regions with a softer deterioration in the economic situation. Although we report mild improvements in both mental and physical health for some sub-groups of the population, we also find significant reductions on the probability of sleeping 6 h or more. Thus, these elements point towards potential negative effects of local labour market conditions on health in the medium/long term.
KW - Business cycle fluctuations
KW - Mental and physical health
KW - Psychotropic consumption
U2 - 10.1007/s10754-020-09281-3
DO - 10.1007/s10754-020-09281-3
M3 - Journal article
VL - 20
SP - 277
EP - 297
JO - International Journal of Health Economics and Management
JF - International Journal of Health Economics and Management
SN - 2199-9031
ER -