The Myth of Increasing Life Expectancy and Its Social Policy Implications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-5-2017

Publication Title

Journal of Sociological Research

Volume

8

Issue

2

First page number:

17

Last page number:

31

Abstract

This paper examines official life expectancy data and its contribution to the myth of increasing longevity in the US; critiques common assumptions by comparing average life expectancy with age-specific death rates and ties the conventional view to mis-placed calls for Social Security and retirement reform based on official statistics.

Keywords

life expectancy, social inequality, official statistics, demography, retirement

Language

eng

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