Afterthoughts on the mortality tempo effect

Abstract

The preceding chapters in this volume provide a broad ranging and stimulating analysis of our claim that conventional estimates of period life expectancy may be distorted by a mortality tempo effect. Much new insight into the process of mortality change and its measurement has been gained, but there is no clear consensus on the existence, nature and size of the tempo effect. Views from different contributors range widely from strongly supportive to dismissive. The purpose of this note is to comment briefly on the main question raised about our analysis of the mortality tempo effect: Is our tempo adjusted life expectancy a current measure of mortality conditions as we (and Vaupel in this volume p. 93 and Guillot in this volume) believe or a measure of the past as suggested by Rodriguez (in this volume) and Wachter (in this volume)?