Decolonization and life expectancy in the Caribbean

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 170; pp. 87 - 96
• Main Authors: Verstraeten, Soraya P.A., van Oers, Hans A.M., Mackenbach, Johan P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: 20th century; Caribbean; Caribbean area; Caribbean Region; Decolonization; Economic conditions; Economic development; Economic growth; GDP; Gross Domestic Product; Gross Domestic Product - trends; Health problems; Humans; Independence; Life expectancy; Life Expectancy - trends; Longevity; Political transition; Politics; Socioeconomic Factors; Sovereignty; State formation; Caribbean area; Life expectancy; Political transition; Independence; State formation; Politics; Caribbean; Decolonization
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.048

Decolonization has brought political independence to half the Caribbean states in the last half of the 20th century, while the other states remain affiliated. Previous studies suggested a beneficial impact of affiliated status on population health, which may be mediated by more favorable economic development. We assessed how disparities in life expectancy between currently sovereign and affiliated states developed over time, whether decolonization coincided with changes in life expectancy, and whether decolonization coincided with similar changes in GDP per capita. Time-series data on life expectancy and related variables, GDP per capita and political status were collected from harmonized databases. We quantified variations in life expectancy by current political status during the 1950–2010 period. We assessed whether decolonization coincided with life expectancy trend changes by: 1. calculating the annual changes before and after independence, and 2. evaluating trend breaks in a predefined period during decolonization using joinpoint analyses. Similar analyses were undertaken for GDP per capita. Life expectancy in currently sovereign Caribbean states was already lower than in affiliated states before political independence. Overall, decolonization coincided with reductions in life expectancy growth, but not with reductions in economic growth, and changes in life expectancy growth in the decade after independence did not correspond with changes in economic performance. The widening of the life expectancy gap between currently sovereign and affiliated states accelerated in the 1990's and continues to increase. Despite considerable life expectancy gains in all Caribbean states, life expectancy in currently sovereign states increasingly lags behind that of states which remained affiliated. Our results indicate that changing economic conditions were not the main determinant of the unfavorable trends in life expectancy during and after decolonization. Circumstantial evidence points to the weakening of bureaucracies during decolonization underlying the uneven life expectancy developments of currently affiliated and sovereign states. •Caribbean states with lower development were more likely to become sovereign.•Decolonization coincided with reductions in life expectancy (LE) growth.•Decolonization did not coincide with reductions in economic growth.•LE trends did not correspond with trends in economic performance after independence.•LE differences between sovereign and affiliated states continue to increase.