Research

Can a bank crisis break your heart?

David Stuckler¹ , Christopher M Meissner^2,3 and Lawrence P King¹

¹  University of Cambridge, Faculty of Social & Political Sciences, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK

²  Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge and National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, CB3 9DD, UK

³  Department of Economics, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA

author email corresponding author email

Globalization and Health 2008, 4:1doi:10.1186/1744-8603-4-1

Published:	15 January 2008

Abstract

Background

To assess whether a banking system crisis increases short-term population cardiovascular mortality rates.

Methods

International, longitudinal multivariate regression analysis of cardiovascular disease mortality data from 1960 to 2002

Results

A system-wide banking crisis increases population heart disease mortality rates by 6.4% (95% CI: 2.5% to 10.2%, p < 0.01) in high income countries, after controlling for economic change, macroeconomic instability, and population age and social distribution. The estimated effect is nearly four times as large in low income countries.

Conclusion

Banking crises are a significant determinant of short-term increases in heart disease mortality rates, and may have more severe consequences for developing countries.