Citation

Stack S. Arch. Suicide Res. 1996; 2(4): 213-222.

Affiliation

Department of Criminal Justice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

While several studies have confirmed that relative cohort size (RCS) influences suicide, presumably through promoting a tight labor market for youth, these have all been based on the U.S. It is unclear if these results will replicate for other societies. This study tests the RCS thesis with data from 12 nations. A pooled, cross section, time series analysis confirms a positive association between RCS and youth suicide. Further, this relationship is strongest in market economies, weaker in mixed economies, and does not hold for nations with command economies. It is contended that the RCS factor will decline in importance in explaining suicide as labor market conditions can be determined more by central planning.