Convergence of life expectancy in the European Union: a Markov approach

Given efforts of integration within the European Union (EU), convergence of life expectancies in member-states should be observed. A Markov approach classifying 15 EU member-states is applied to OECD data covering 1980 to 1989 and 1989 to 1998. The dynamics of cross-sectional distributions and the pace of their transitional processes are analyzed. In the 1980s slow convergence can be observed, whereas in the 1990s convergence is close to non-existent. Markov modelling shows that EU member states did not continue to converge in life expectancy following 1989, suggesting that efforts of socio-economic integration do not affect this public health indicator.