Ages of Origin and Destination for a Difference in Life Expectancy

Elwood Carlson, Florida State University

Age decomposition of a difference in life expectancy may consider the ages at which the difference originates, or on the other hand, may consider the ages at which the difference is actually lived. Centered on the concept of temporary life expectancies within age groups, this exposition shows that these two perspectives on the origin and destination of a difference in life expectancy represent orthogonal dimensions of the same underlying decomposition approach. The approach is illustrated for differences in life expectancy by race and sex in the United States in 2000.