Upward social mobility affects population mortality

Some of the reduction in mortality seen over the past 30 years can be attributed to a proportional shift in the number of people in higher social classes, say Heller and colleagues (p 134). Between 1970-2 and 1991-3 death rates in England and Wales declined in all social classes, but because reductions were greater in higher social classes the gap between the higher and lower social classes increased. At the same time the distribution of the population between the social classes changed. Among men in England and Wales, 16% of the reduction in deaths between 1970-2 and 1991-3 was attributable to increases in the proportion of men in higher social classes.

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Relevant Article

Impact of upward social mobility on population mortality: analysis with routine data

Richard F Heller, Patrick McElduff, and Richard Edwards
BMJ 2002 325: 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]