Citation

Tapia Granados JA. Salud Colect. 2014; 10(1): 81-91.

Vernacular Title

La crisis y la salud en España y en Europa: ¿Está aumentando la mortalidad?

Affiliation

Departamento de Historia y Ciencias Políticas, Drexel University, Filadelfia, EE.UU, jat368@drexel.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Universidad Nacional de Lanús)

DOI

10.1590/S1851-82652014000100006

PMID

24823606

Abstract

In recent publications it has been suggested that the health of the European population is deteriorating as a consequence of the economic crisis. Such deterioration would be manifested by an increase in mortality, particularly in those countries applying austerity measures. It has also been suggested that as a consequence of these policies, suicides have skyrocketed and the situation could become a public health catastrophe of the kind that occurred in the 1990s in the countries formerly part of the USSR. These affirmations have no basis in the existing data. Statistics indicate that in European countries in general and especially in those most affected by the crisis, general mortality has decreased and the health of the population has improved in 2007-2010. Paradoxically, the crisis has had a beneficial effect on health in these countries. Such findings are in substantial agreement with previous studies that have shown throughout various periods within market economies that recessions are favorable to health while periods of economic expansion are harmful.

Language: es