In a panel setting, we analyse the speed of
(beta) convergence of (cause-specific) mortality and life
expectancy at birth in EU countries between 1995 and
2009. Our contribution is threefold. First, in contrast to
earlier literature, we allow the convergence rate to vary,
and thereby uncover significant differences in the speed of
convergence across time and regions. Second, we control
for spatial correlations across regions. Third, we estimate
convergence among regions, rather than countries, ...
In a panel setting, we analyse the speed of
(beta) convergence of (cause-specific) mortality and life
expectancy at birth in EU countries between 1995 and
2009. Our contribution is threefold. First, in contrast to
earlier literature, we allow the convergence rate to vary,
and thereby uncover significant differences in the speed of
convergence across time and regions. Second, we control
for spatial correlations across regions. Third, we estimate
convergence among regions, rather than countries, and
thereby highlight noteworthy variations within a country.
Although we find (beta) convergence on average, we also
identify significant differences in the catching-up process
across both time and regions. Moreover, we use the coefficient
of variation to measure the dynamics of dispersion
levels of mortality and life expectancy (sigma convergence)
and, surprisingly, find no reduction, on average, in
dispersion levels. Consequently, if the reduction of dispersion
is the ultimate measure of convergence, then, to the
best of our knowledge, our study is the first that shows a
lack of convergence in health across EU regions.
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