A bad economy can be good for your health

This podcast episode explores the relationship between economic conditions and mortality rates. The research of Chris Ruhm, a professor of public policy and economics, challenges the conventional belief that economic downturns lead to increased death rates. Ruhm's findings show that deaths actually decrease during recessions, highlighting the complex and nuanced impact of economic well-being on mortality rates. The episode discusses specific categories of deaths that go up and down with the economy, such as traffic fatalities and cardiovascular disease deaths. It also explores the positive health effects of recessions, including improvements in behaviors such as exercise, diet, and sleep. However, there are exceptions to these trends, with suicides and drug-related deaths increasing during economic downturns. The section concludes by emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind these effects.