Income, Inequality, and Geography: Disparities in Age at Death

This chapter explores the relationship between long-term exposure to neighborhood income inequality and adult mortality in Landskrona during a period of declining economic disparities. Using geocoded data from 1939 to 1967, the authors examine three interconnected hypotheses concerning income inequality and longevity. The analysis considers spatial changes in neighborhood inequality over time and investigates the lasting impact of neighborhood income and inequality on the probability of dying before the ages of 50 and 70, respectively. The findings reveal that, alongside higher personal income, individuals living in wealthier or more equal neighborhoods experienced a lower risk of dying. The results do thus not support the belief that others’ average income, relative to one’s own, detrimentally affects mortality. The fluctuating local inequality in Landskrona provides valuable insights into the intricate relationship between inequality and mortality.