New research programme to study urban health

Urban Lab economists Mattias Öhman and Oscar Erixson are part of a research group that has been awarded SEK 43 million in funding to study urban health. The eight-year research program, "Do Cities Create or Attract Healthy Individuals? Causality and Selection in Urban Health," is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. The research team consists of scholars in economics, human geography, epidemiology, and public health, who will jointly investigate how urban and rural environments impact human health.

“Although urban residents are generally healthier than those in rural areas, health disparities within cities suggest a complex relationship between urban life and health. In our studies, we aim to identify causal relationships and explore whether specific urban characteristics directly improve health or if cities simply attract healthier individuals,” says Oscar Erixson, researcher in economics at the Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF).

Using extensive Swedish data on health outcomes, behaviors, housing, and neighborhood characteristics, the research will generate new knowledge about the causes of geographic health inequalities.

The researchers will examine a wide range of factors, including access to healthcare and green spaces, as well as the health effects of air pollution and the recent surge in gun violence and explosions.

Mattias Öhman will lead the development of a Swedish Health Atlas, a digital tool that will be publicly accessible online. The project is inspired by the American Opportunity Atlas, though the Swedish version will be adapted to local conditions and data.

“Ultimately, the goal is to create healthier cities and rural areas. We hope that our Health Atlas will serve as a valuable knowledge base for policymakers, urban planners, and private companies, helping to shape communities that promote health and reduce inequalities between urban and rural areas. This is crucial knowledge when making investments in urban infrastructure,” says Mattias Öhman, researcher in economics at IBF.