Abstract
In most countries, females live several years longer than males. Many biological and behavioral reasons have been presented in the scientific literature to explain this “female advantage”. A cross-sectional regression study, using 50 explanatory variables and data collected from 169 countries, provides support to the behavioral hypothesis. Four variables, unrelated to biological sex differences, explain over 61% of the variability of the life expectancy differential. One variable (the number of persons per physician) summarizes the degree of economic development of a country. The three other selected variables (the fertility rate, the percentage of Hindus and Buddhists, and Europeans living in the former Soviet Union) are social/cultural/religious variables.
Keywords: Life expectancy, cross-country regression, female survival advantage
Volume
Washington
Year
2001
Categories
Financial and Statistical Methods
Statistical Models and Methods
Regression
Business Areas
Accident and Health
Practice Areas
International Areas
Business Areas
Other Lines of Business
Publications
ASTIN Colloquium
