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Analysis of Health and Longevity in the Oldest-Old Population—A Health Capital Approach

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Healthy Longevity in China

Part of the book series: The Springer Series on Demographic Methods and Population Analysis ((PSDE,volume 20))

Abstract

Using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, we study health in the oldest old population. Our study is based on the Grossman model, which suggests that health reflects the stock of health capital. Current inputs into thehealth production function, and contemporary changes of behavior and life style willonly have an incremental effect on the stock of health capital, which is determinedby health history. Our study supports this view. Furthermore, our results suggest that besides aging, there are other important factors contributing to poor healt has measured by the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living, and mortality, suchas gender, urban residence, and marital status. Socioeconomic status, such as the financial resources and education level of the individual and of his/her spouse playsan insignificant role in the health of the oldest-old. There is an inverse relationship between health and risky behavior.

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Zhao, Z. (2008). Analysis of Health and Longevity in the Oldest-Old Population—A Health Capital Approach. In: Yi, Z., Poston, D.L., Vlosky, D.A., Gu, D. (eds) Healthy Longevity in China. The Springer Series on Demographic Methods and Population Analysis, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6752-5_10

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