One of the most-studied topics in economics is the effect of unemployment on mortality. A wonderful op-ed at Children’s Health Defense, penned by economist Toby Rogers explains this connection, and the research behind it.
“A more recent meta analysis of 42 studies conducted in 15 countries on the relationship between unemployment and all-cause mortality found that unemployment increased the risk of dying by 63%“
If a 20-30% unemployment rate is sustained over a period of several years, will the over 1 million “deaths of despair” have been worth slowing the spread of a mostly benign infection by a few months? Will the destruction of the economy have been worth it? Those deaths will be swept under the rug, never counted, never acknowledged.
