A Cohort Survival Comparison of Central and Eastern European and High-Longevity Countries

A great number of studies have analysed the mortality disadvantage of Central and Eastern European countries compared to other European countries. Theories of mortality trend convergence and divergence are based primarily on analysis of situations in individual Central and Eastern European countries. The authors adopt a new perspective and method here, using truncated cross-sectional average length of life (TCAL) to see how different cohorts contribute to the observed mortality gaps. This method produces quite different results from life expectancy at a given time, while bringing to light histories that differ considerably by cohort and country.