Earnings implications of person years lost life expectancy among Canada's aboriginal peoples

Authors

  • Paul S. Maxim Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London Ontario
  • Jerry P. White Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London Ontario
  • Stephen Obeng Gyimah Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London Ontario
  • Daniel Beavon Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Ottawa Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25336/P61S4R

Abstract

Overall, Canada has one of the world’s highest national life expectancies. This benefit is not shared by Canada’s aboriginal population, however, which has a life expectancy approximately seven years less than the general population. The Aboriginal population also differs in that it has a higher fertility rate and higher mortality rates among infants and young adults. One of the consequences of the mortality differential is that the number of person years of lost life (PYLL) expectancy is large for the Aboriginal community in comparison to the general population. While several studies have focused on the causes of differential mortality, this study examines some of the socio-economic consequences of differences in PYLL. Examining wage labor income, for example, we determine that the PYLL differential translates into an expected wage and salary loss of approximately $1.56 billion.

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Published

2003-12-31

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Articles