U.S. Life Expectancy Goes Up, But Not Fast Enough*

Ronald Bailey | June 12, 2008

The Census Bureau reports that average life expectancy in the U.S. rose above 78 years in 2006. Hooray. While the rate of increase is just a bit shy of 4 months per year, that's not nearly enough, It needs to increase by more than year per year to reach "actuarial escape velocity."

While I am unable to attend, reasonoids might want to check out the no doubt fascinating Understanding Aging conference at UCLA on June 27-29.

Live long and prosper.

*Changed from: Good News: U.S. Average Life Expectancy is Now 78 Years. I just like the new one better.

Comments

Jozef|6.12.08 @ 11:57AM|#

I've already started using hexadecimal numbers when talking about my age. That makes me 20 right now, and I intend to live till I'm 80.

jimmy|6.12.08 @ 12:06PM|#

the version of the article i read said deaths from diabetes declined by 5% from 2005 to 2006. so much for the "epidemic" of obesity and diabetes.

Elemenope|6.12.08 @ 12:09PM|#

the version of the article i read said deaths from diabetes declined by 5% from 2005 to 2006. so much for the "epidemic" of obesity and diabetes.

Uh, jimmy, just because treatment options have become better and more reliable (hence reducing mortality), it does not follow that rates of chronic sufferers are not increasing.

*Living* with diabetes blows, never mind dying from it.

e|6.12.08 @ 12:37PM|#

I wonder how much higher our expectancy is compared to the socialist countries in Europe and Japan, where health care is rationed?

|6.12.08 @ 12:39PM|#

actuarial escape velocity

Nice thought, but there is no first law of motion at work here. Maybe you exceed 'replacement rate' for a while, but unless you keep the health innovations coming, the rate of extra living going to level out.

|6.12.08 @ 12:39PM|#

Wasn't there an article a short while ago where it said the life expectancy went down for the first time since the depression?

|6.12.08 @ 12:45PM|#

Clearly Ron is shilling for Big Life.

|6.12.08 @ 12:57PM|#

Women live 5.3 years longer than men. Is this proof of systemic prejudice against men by our obviously matriarchal society?* SugarFree, what's the Feministing take on this irreefutable evidence of widespread, endemic anti-male discrimination?

Or could the difference possinbly be that pesky Y chromosome and behavioral differences?

* Cruise the internet for male/female wage difference discussions. Then use those same argumnents for life expectancy differences. It's a game anybody can play.

|6.12.08 @ 1:18PM|#

Sergeant Overthetop: You guys wanna live forever?

Me: Yes



J sub D

As a white male over 18, you should know by now that your demographic group is never subject to discrimination. That is a basic premise of victimculture*.

*that is supposed to be one word. It's my neologism of the week.

|6.12.08 @ 1:22PM|#

Ron Paul for President 2012. And 2016, and 2020, and . . .

|6.12.08 @ 2:26PM|#

That is a basic premise of victimculture*.

*that is supposed to be one word. It's my neologism of the week.

May I humbly suggest victimiculture? I rolls of the tongue easier.

|6.12.08 @ 2:30PM|#

On my 76th birthday, I'm going to start smoking again and allow my diet to go straight to hell.

Given the quality of life of most geriatrics I know, if I'm lucky enough to beat the odds, I don't want to beat them by too much.

|6.12.08 @ 2:53PM|#

I wonder how much higher our expectancy is compared to the socialist countries in Europe and Japan, where health care is rationed?

It's higher. In Japan it's 82.02 and in the European Union the average is 78.7.

|6.12.08 @ 2:58PM|#

I meant lower. Socialised medicine has clearly decreased my mentan capacities.

|6.12.08 @ 3:02PM|#

It's higher. In Japan it's 82.02 and in the European Union the average is 78.7.

What's the diff if you correct for ethnic background? I know blacks (and I suspect hispanics) have lower life expectancies than whites in the US.

Socialised medicine has clearly decreased my mentan capacities.

Apparently so.

|6.12.08 @ 3:02PM|#

Tags, close.

Stupid reason website.

e|6.12.08 @ 5:06PM|#

It's higher. In Japan it's 82.02 and in the European Union the average is 78.7.

That is very, very surprising. The free market always creates the best possible outcome. Either your figures are wrong, or the best possible outcome is a lower life expectancy. Either way, further research is needed.

bubba|6.12.08 @ 6:17PM|#

I think this line of reasoning is all backwards.

Life expectancy is usually given for a specific, young cohort. Any finite life expectancy implies mortality, regardless of its rate of change.

If the life expectancy of a single cohort is going up one year per year, then you've got something.

|6.12.08 @ 6:17PM|#

Really, e, we're used to a much better class of troll around these parts. You might try Little Green Footballs; I hear their registration is open.

|6.13.08 @ 2:08AM|#

That is very, very surprising. The free market always creates the best possible outcome. Either your figures are wrong, or the best possible outcome is a lower life expectancy. Either way, further research is needed.

Trolltard!

oleg|6.13.08 @ 3:35PM|#

"I wonder how much higher our expectancy is compared to the socialist countries in Europe and Japan, where health care is rationed?"

In Norway - communist hell with Stalin's grandnephew in the position of prime minister - life expectancy is 79.81 years.