Long-term health effects of Vietnam-era military service: A quasi-experiment using Australian conscription lotteries

RIS ID

104496

Publication Details

Johnston, D. W., Shields, M. A. & Siminski, P. (2016). Long-term health effects of Vietnam-era military service: A quasi-experiment using Australian conscription lotteries. Journal of Health Economics, 45 12-26.

Abstract

This paper estimates the long-term health effects of Vietnam-era military service using Australia's National conscription lotteries for identification. Our primary contribution is the quality and breadth of our health outcomes. We use several administrative sources, containing a near-universe of records on mortality (1994-2011), cancer diagnoses (1982-2008), and emergency hospital presentations (2005-2010). We also analyse a range of self-reported morbidity indicators (2006-2009). We find no significant long-term effects on mortality, cancer or emergency hospital visits. In contrast, we find significant detrimental effects on a number of morbidity measures. Hearing and mental health appear to be particularly affected.

Grant Number

ARC/DE120101642

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