German Society for Demography (DGD) • 25.03.2024Prizes awarded to BiB scientists

Best Paper Award: avoidable deaths in German-speaking regions

From left to right: Dr. Annelene Wengler (Robert Koch Institute, Berlin) presents the Best Paper Award 2024 of the DGD to Dr. Michael Mühlichen (BiB). Source: © BiB

The article "Different health systems – Different mortality outcomes? Regional disparities in avoidable mortality across German-speaking Europe, 1992–2019" by Dr. Michael Mühlichen et al. examines the influence of different health systems on "avoidable deaths" in German-speaking Central Europe. These are deaths between the ages of 0 and 74 that could in principle be avoided medically (with timely and adequate treatment) or preventively. The study shows a clear north-south and east-west divide in Germany. According to the study, avoidable deaths reduce life expectancy particularly strongly in eastern Germany, especially in Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt. Some regions in western Germany characterised by economic structural change also have a high avoidable mortality rate.

The authors conclude that health policy measures in the areas of prevention and care need to be improved in these regions. A comparison with healthcare systems in neighbouring regions could be worthwhile here: Switzerland and South Tyrol have the fewest avoidable deaths, followed by western Austria and southern Germany.

The article by Dr. Michael Mühlichen (BiB), Ass. Prof. Mathias Lerch (EPFL), Dr. Markus Sauerberg and Dr. Pavel Grigoriev (both BiB) was published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

Best Master's thesis: economic effects of internal migration in Germany

From left to right: Dr. Sven Drehfahl (Stockholm University) presents the DGD Young Talent Award 'Best Master's Thesis' to Elias Hofman (BiB). Source: © BiB

Elias Hofmann was honored by the DGD for his master's thesis on the economic effects of internal migration in Germany. He investigated how relocations affect the wages of men and women - and whether the distance of relocation plays a role in this. Specifically: do people who move longer distances achieve higher income gains than those who move shorter distances? The result: for men and women who do not live in a partnership, this is the case. However, women who live in a partnership cannot benefit from these positive income effects.

The author concludes that women in partnerships often do not move for their own careers and therefore cannot use long-distance moves for their careers. This can have an impact on the distribution of income within the partnership and the associated negotiating position in future household decisions.