Scholarships & funding

CoSS PhD Scholarship: These Islands: Austerity and Life Expectancy in Great Britain and Ireland

Background

The average life expectancy of high-income countries has consistently improved since the late 1800s except for times of pandemic and war.¹ However, after around 2012, this changed such that trends in average life expectancy stagnated across many high-income countries, including the UK, USA and Germany,^2,3 with health inequalities worsening⁴. International studies show that austerity is an important cause of the stagnating trends.^3,5 Yet, some countries such as the Republic of Ireland (RoI) have continued to see improving life expectancy despite a form of austerity being implemented, raising questions about the varied nature of the austerity, and the importance of the broader economic context.^3,6,7

Aim

This studentship will characterise the varied nature of austerity through a comparison of the UK and RoI, to understand whether and how varied forms of austerity can explain their divergent life expectancy trends.

Research Objectives (ROs)

RO1: To characterise the nature of austerity policies implemented in the UK and RoI after 2010.

RO2: To describe the health trends in the UK and RoI after 2010, including mortality, morbidity and inequalities.

RO3: To evaluate the extent to which differences in the implementation of austerity can explain the divergent life expectancy trends.

Methods

RO1: will be addressed through: a. Policy analysis of budget statements and government departmental plans; b. Literature review; and c. Key stakeholder interviews.

RO2: will involve analysis and interpretation of publicly available data (e.g. mortality, burden of disease).

RO3: will apply the MRC approach to evaluating complex natural experiments.⁸

Impact

The studentship will inform policy recommendations through the existing UK/RoI public health networks on the health impacts of public spending and tax policies.

References

1             McCartney G, Walsh D, Whyte B, Collins C. Has Scotland always been the ‘sick man’ of Europe? An observational study from 1855 to 2006. European Journal of Public Health 2012; 22: 756–60.

2             Fenton L, Minton J, Ramsay J, et al. Recent adverse mortality trends in Scotland: comparison with other high-income countries. BMJ Open 2019; 9: e029936.

3             McCartney G, McMaster R, Popham F, Dundas R, Walsh D. Is austerity a cause of slower improvements in mortality in high-income countries? A panel analysis. Social Science & Medicine 2022; 313: 115397.

4             Fenton L, Wyper GM, McCartney G, Minton J. Socioeconomic inequality in recent adverse all-cause mortality trends in Scotland. J Epidemiol Community Health 2019; 73: 971.

5             McCartney G, Walsh D, Fenton L, Devine R. Resetting the course for population health. Glasgow: Glasgow Centre for Population Health and the University of Glasgow, 2022.

6             Saltkjel T, Ingelsrud MH, Dahl E, Halvorsen K. A fuzzy set approach to economic crisis, austerity and public health. Part I. European countries’ conformity to ideal types during the economic downturn. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 2017; 45: 41–7.

7             Whiteside H, McBride S, Evans B. Varieties of austerity. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2021.

8             Skivington K, Matthews L, Simpson SA, et al. A new framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions: update of Medical Research Council guidance. BMJ 2021; 374: n2061.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria

• Applicants will have a good Masters degree (or overseas equivalent)
• Applicants will have a demonstratable interest in the topic under investigation.
• Applicants can study part-time or full-time (although International applicants may have visa restrictions that preclude undertaking a PhD on a part-time basis)

Please note that all applicants must also meet the entry requirements for the Social & Public Health, PhD. 

Number of Scholarships

1

Value

The scholarship is available as a full-time +3 (3 year) PhD programme only. The programme will commence in October 2024. The funding includes:

• An annual stipend at the UKRI rate
• Fees at the standard home rate or International rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £940 per year

How to apply

Please review the Application process section on this page. 

For more information contact: Gerard.McCartney@glasgow.ac.uk