Iryo To Shakai

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In this paper, we examine how regional inequality affects self-rated health at an individual level. We conduct a multilevel analysis by using micro data from nationwide surveys, which is the Japanese General Social Survey, 2000(JGSS) in Japan and the Current Population survey, March 2002(CPS) in the US. The results of the ordered probit model show that the effect on the Gini coefficient is significantly positive for both countries, and the magnitude of the marginal effect of the Gini coefficient is Japan(0.299) and US(0.054), respectively. Especially worth noting is that we also find that income inequality has a substantial influence on the elderly, for which the magnitude of the marginal effect of the Gini coefficient is Japan(1.124) and US(0.250), respectively. Individuals who live in an area of high inequality tend to report themselves as unhealthy, even after controlling for various individual and regional characteristics in both countries.

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