Spatial Spillover Effect of State Policy Liberalism and Mortality in the U.S.

• In Event: 20855 - Morbidity and Mortality

Abstract

Over recent decades, research has suggested that state policies significantly influence population health outcomes in the United States. However, existing studies typically treat states as isolated units, overlooking potential spillover effects across state boundaries. This study examines how state policy environments affect county-level mortality rates, with particular attention to spatial dynamics. Using spatial regression analyses of county-level mortality data (N = 3,129), I find that more liberal state policies are associated with lower mortality rates. However, this relationship is attenuated in border counties, suggesting that proximity to state borders may buffer against policy environments. Additionally, I introduce a novel weighted spatial difference score to capture policy disparities between neighboring states. Results indicate that counties experience lower mortality rates when they are closer to states with more liberal states than their own state, independent of their state’s policy orientation. These findings demonstrate that the health impacts of state policies extend beyond administrative boundaries through spatial spillover effects, highlighting the importance of considering geographic location when examining the relationship between policy environments and population health outcomes.

Author

• Heeyoung Lee, University at Albany, SUNY