The shape of inequality: racial disparities in age-specific mortality

Abstract

There are significant mortality disparities across racial and socioeconomic (SES) groups. Although the mechanisms behind these disparities remain vague, there is a clear connection between the mortality disparities across racial and SES groups. It is less clear, though, if the relationship between SES and racial mortality disparities varies across the life course. Prior research indicates that both racial and SES mortality disparities decline over the life course. These results suggest that if we standardize mortality rates for age-variation in the SES-mortality relationship, then the age-pattern of racial mortality disparities will be attenuated. Using data from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, I analyze the relationship between SES and racial disparities in age-specific mortality among adults aged 25 and over. The results suggest that racial differences in SES are most important early in the adult life, and are minimally related to the convergence in racial mortality disparities at the oldest ages.