Could an economic recession actually have a healthy upside?

Could an economic recession actually have a healthy upside?

No doubt, the current economic scene is hurting people far and wide. And typically, homicides, suicides, cancer deaths, and mental health problems rise during deep recessions.

But an analysis published in a 2000 issue of the Quarterly Journal of Economics suggests that some health factors may actually improve. The 2000 study found that death rates dropped during the 1974 and 1982 recessions. But when the economy recovered in the mid-80s, death rates went up as well. Over the period of economic decline, rates of heart disease and car accidents also dropped.

Economists believe that recessions prompt families to spend more time together and follow a healthier diet because they tend to prepare meals from scratch at home.

When life gives you lemons…

Source:
“Are Bad Times Healthy?” Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times, 10/7/08, nytimes.com