From Le Figaro with AFP
Published 6 hours ago, updated 44 minutes ago
A food bank in Coventry, central England. OLI SCARF / AFP
According to a study, the proportion of people dying under the age of 75 is expected to increase by almost 6.5%. The most disadvantaged households will be four times more affected.
The number of early deaths due to the cost of living crisis could rise by almost 6.5% in the UK, which is hit by persistent inflation, according to a study published on Monday September 25 in the journal BMJ. This study predicts that this crisis risks shortening lifespans and widening wealth and health gaps between rich and poor in the UK. The proportion of people dying under the age of 75 is expected to rise by almost 6.5%. According to this study, the most disadvantaged households will be four times more affected than disadvantaged households.
The highest inflation in the G7 countries
The researchers point to inflation that is “at levels not seen since the 1970s.” It was 6.7% year-on-year in August, a slight decline from the previous month and the lowest since February 2022, but remains the highest among G7 countries. “The poorest households are bearing the brunt as they spend a larger share of their income on energy, the cost of which has skyrocketed,” the study said.
Researchers assessed the impact of inflation on death rates in Scotland in 2022-23 by assessing various scenarios with and without government measures to alleviate this cost of living crisis, including support for households facing energy costs. Without containment measures, inflation could increase the number of early deaths by 5% in the least deprived areas and by 23% in the most deprived areas, researchers predict. With the government’s measures, inflation leads to an increase in early deaths of 2% and 8%, respectively.
“The economy has an impact on the health of the population”
The researchers worked on Scotland, but assure that “similar impacts” are likely across the UK as they “modeled the impact of actions taken by the UK government”. “Our analysis helps show that the economy has an impact on population health,” the researchers conclude. “Since 2012, economic conditions in the UK have led to a decline in life expectancy and widening health inequalities.”
Studies are accumulating that demonstrate the extent of the consequences of this crisis. According to a study published in early September by the Resolution Foundation think tank, Britons are at risk of experiencing the worst decline in living standards since “at least the 1950s” in several years. In June, a study from the University of Sussex showed that hunger has become the “new normal” for millions of Brits.