The demand for prevention in middle and later life (360G-Wellcome-203208_Z_16_Z)

Population ageing is likely to increase the burden of non-communicable diseases (e.g. cancer). Prevention (including health behaviour and screening programmes) can considerably reduce the morbidity and mortality risks of these diseases, and will therefore play a key role in maintaining the health of an ageing population. The research project will investigate the demand for prevention among middle-aged and older people theoretically and empirically. In the first part of the project, I will derive a theoretical framework based on the health capital model that allows me to derive hypotheses on determinants of the demand for prevention, in particular with respect to time costs. In the empirical part of the project I will test these hypotheses using econometric methods for causal inference and data from the UK as well as international data. I will analyse three specific factors that are associated with different levels of time costs and play a major role among older people – retirement, informal care provision and voluntary work. The projected output will consist of at least four academic papers and a number of conference presentations. I will engage members of the public in an advisory group. Keywords: prevention, screening, health behaviour, causal inference, ageing