I found an article produced by the US-based Population Reference Bureau: https://www.prb.org/resources/high-death-rate-among-russian-men-predates-soviet-unions-demise/ [http://h7.prb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1920x600_gradient-globe-data-teal.jpg]<https://www.prb.org/resources/high-death-rate-among-russian-men-predates-soviet-unions-demise/> High Death Rate Among Russian Men Predates Soviet Union's Demise<https://www.prb.org/resources/high-death-rate-among-russian-men-predates-soviet-unions-demise/> Informing a Smarter World www.prb.org
It shows that male life expectancy in Russia rose until about 1965, then began to decline. It rose in the early years of Gorbachev's rule, then declined drastically around 1990. The article blames Russia's low life expectancy largely on excessive alcohol consumption. The rise in in life expectancy in the early years of Gorbachev is attributed to his anti-alcohol campaign. No doubt alcohol is a factor, but high levels of alcohol or drug consumption often reflect a depressed state of mind (for example, the "deaths of despair" in the US). Perhaps Brezhnev's bureaucratic rule made people depressed. Perhaps Brezhnev neglected the health care system. Another possible explanation is that the rising death rate after 1965 was a delayed result of trauma experienced by millions of people during the second world war. Perhaps after two decades of drinking heavily in an attempt to deal with traumatic memories, their health finally deteriorated to such an extent that they died. This is all speculation. Perhaps others are able find articles giving evidence about the reasons for the decline. Chris Slee -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#29505): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/29505 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/104995239/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
