Impact of macro-level socio-economic factors on rising suicide rates in South Korea: panel-data analysis in East Asia
Please note: this is a legacy publication from CPEC (formely PSSRU at LSE).Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics 17 4 151-162
Available online: 1 December 2014
Abstract
Our study set out to understand South Korea’s rising suicide rates in the context of other Asian countries (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan), using both panel-data and country-specific time-series analyses (1980-2009). The macro-level variables considered were transformed to percentage changes or first differences due to their non-stationary properties over time. Despite similarities in geography and culture, the rising suicide trend was found to be unique to South Korea, especially for people aged 65 and over. Our results (panel-data model) generally pointed to a negative relationship between economic growth and suicide rates, particularly for working-aged people. Country-specific findings further suggested that reduced social integration and economic adversity (unemployment and economic downturn) might in part explain the atypical suicide trend in South Korea, especially for older people and middle-aged men, respectively. These findings highlight the need of different policy interventions for different age groups to curb suicides in South Korea.
Our study set out to understand South Korea’s rising suicide rates in the context of other Asian countries (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan), using both panel-data and country-specific time-series analyses (1980-2009). The macro-level variables considered were transformed to percentage changes or first differences due to their non-stationary properties over time. Despite similarities in geography and culture, the rising suicide trend was found to be unique to South Korea, especially for people aged 65 and over. Our results (panel-data model) generally pointed to a negative relationship between economic growth and suicide rates, particularly for working-aged people. Country-specific findings further suggested that reduced social integration and economic adversity (unemployment and economic downturn) might in part explain the atypical suicide trend in South Korea, especially for older people and middle-aged men, respectively. These findings highlight the need of different policy interventions for different age groups to curb suicides in South Korea.