New research programme to study urban health

IBF economists Mattias Öhman and Oscar Erixson are part of a research group that has been awarded SEK 43 million to investigate urban health. The funding comes from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond for an eight-year research initiative titled "Do Cities Create or Attract Healthy Individuals? Causality and Selection in Urban Health." The interdisciplinary team includes researchers in economics, human geography, epidemiology, and public health, who will jointly examine how urban and rural environments influence human health.

“Although urban residents are generally healthier than those living in rural areas, differences in health within cities suggest a complex relationship between urban life and health. We hope our studies can identify causal links and help answer whether specific urban characteristics directly improve health, or if cities simply attract healthier people,” says Oscar Erixson, economist at IBF.

Using extensive Swedish data on health outcomes and behaviours, housing, and neighbourhood characteristics, the research will generate new insights into the causes of geographical health inequalities.

The team will investigate a range of factors, including access to healthcare and green spaces, as well as the health effects of air pollution and the recent rise in gun violence and explosions.

Mattias Öhman will lead the development of a Swedish “Health Atlas” – a digital tool that will be made publicly available online. The project is inspired by the American ”The Opportunity Atlas”, though the Swedish version will differ in design and data sources.

“Ultimately, this is about creating healthier cities and rural areas. We hope the Health Atlas will provide valuable knowledge for policymakers, urban planners, and private stakeholders when considering how to design communities that promote public health and reduce disparities between urban and rural areas. This kind of insight is essential when making investments in urban infrastructure,” says Mattias Öhman, economist at IBF.