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. 2015 Feb;7(1):63-94.
doi: 10.1257/pol.20120325.

Is there a Link Between Foreclosure and Health?

Janet Currie  1 , Erdal Tekin  2
Affiliations

Is there a Link Between Foreclosure and Health?

Janet Currie et al. Am Econ J Econ Policy. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between foreclosures and hospital visits using data on all foreclosures and all hospital and emergency room visits from four states that were among the hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. We find that living in a neighborhood with a spike in foreclosures is associated with significant increases in urgent unscheduled visits, including increases in visits for preventable conditions. The estimated relationships cannot be accounted for by increasing unemployment, declines in housing prices, migration, or by people switching from out-patient providers to hospitals.

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Figures

Figure 1A
Figure 1A. Average of Unemployment and Foreclosure Rates for Analysis States 2005–2009
Source: Foreclosure rates are drawn from the National Delinquency Survey of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Unemployment rate come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figure 1B
Figure 1B. Unemployment and Foreclosure Rates Separately for Four States 2005–2009
Source: Foreclosure rates are drawn from the National Delinquency Survey of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Unemployment rate come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Residual Foreclosure Rates after Controlling for Unemployment
Source: Foreclosure rates are drawn from the National Delinquency Survey of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Unemployment rate come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Foreclosures by Zip Code Within Counties, Florida 2009
Source: RealtyTrac. White areas are places that are not covered by a ZCTA, and include places such as large bodies of water or national/state parks.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Concentration of Seasonal and Occasional Houses Based on 2010 Census Data
Note: Red areas represent ZCTAs that rank in the top 10% of zips for seasonal housing units. Grey areas are places that are not covered by a ZCTA, and include places such as large bodies of water or national/state parks. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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