Social inequality in mortality in rural Spain (1860–2010): The role of education and human capital

Abstract

This study investigates the role of education in shaping social disparities in mortality in rural Spain over the past 150 years. On the basis of individual-level life-course microdata on around 40,000 individuals, it examines variables such as socio-economic status, age at death, and various family, cultural, and environmental factors. An event history analysis tracks the lifespans of all individuals who died at age 25 or older in 17 villages. Our findings indicate that literacy and higher levels of education were positively associated with longevity. This beneficial effect extends in multiple directions: human capital not only enhanced individual longevity, but also improved the survival and wellbeing of children and parents. Therefore, investing in one's own or one's children's education boosted not only personal longevity, but also the wellbeing of those around them. The reasons behind these patterns could be diverse, including the ability to adapt lifestyles to medical and health advancements (evidenced by the intensified effect of literacy from the late nineteenth century when hygiene knowledge became widespread) and higher purchasing power, together with higher skill levels and less physically demanding occupations.