We hypothesize that when interpersonal comparisons, often referred to as “keeping up with the Joneses”, are operational, relative deprivation (income inequality) results in increased likelihood of morbidity among lower income households. Using a simple theoretical model, we show that the larger the income disparities between “the Joneses” and “the followers”, the higher is the followers' expenditure on conspicuous consumption and the lower is their expenditure on health. We empirically test our hypotheses using Canadian data from the Canadian Community Health Survey and the Survey of Household Spending and US data from the National Health Interview Survey. We find that, in peer groups defined by geographic proximity of residence or similar socio-economic background, larger income disparities are associated with higher spending by the followers on conspicuous consumption, lower health expenditure, worse self-reported health and younger age at death.

中文翻译：

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死于嫉妒：不平等的作用

我们假设，当人际比较（通常被称为“跟上邻居”）具有可操作性时，相对剥夺（收入不平等）会导致低收入家庭发病的可能性增加。我们用一个简单的理论模型表明，“琼斯”和“追随者”之间的收入差距越大，追随者的炫耀性消费支出越高，而他们的健康支出越低。我们使用来自加拿大社区健康调查和家庭支出调查的加拿大数据以及来自全国健康访谈调查的美国数据，对我们的假设进行了实证检验。我们发现，在由居住地或类似的社会经济背景定义的同龄人群体中，