Recent researches have found that contractions in economic activity like crises and recessions may lead to improvements in health condition. The study covered health trends during the 20 years around the Great Depression. The study was analyzing correlations between economic woes and health improvements in various countries.

The University of Michigan discovered that U.S. life expectancy increased by 6 years between 1929 and 1932, from 57 to 63, with the increase occurring for both men and women and for whites and non-whites. Moreover, the cases of death from disease, accidents and infant mortality during the Great Depression also fell.

"The finding is strong and counterintuitive," said researcher Jose Tapia Granados from the university's Institute for Social Research. "Most people assume that periods of high unemployment are harmful to health."

The research found interesting facts about economic growth and recession and their impact on the society. It revealed that within the period of the Great Depression and during recessions in 1921 and 1938 the health of the population generally improved. On the other hand mortality increased and life expectancy declined during periods of strong economic expansion, such as 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1936-1937.

The reasons were not analyzed in the research but Tapia Granados speculates that this may be because during the period of economic boom people are inclined to smoke and drink more while less sleeping and having more stress.

"During expansions, firms are very busy, and they typically demand a lot of effort from employees, who are required to work a lot of overtime, and to work at a fast pace. This can create stress, which is associated with more drinking and smoking," he said in a statement.

Besides, with the expansion of the economy there is a surge in traffic which means more traffic accidents and deaths. Deaths from injuries also increase during economic activity as companies tend to hire more inexperienced workforce. Other reasons include increase in air pollution with showing that deaths from heart disease tend to spike on days marked by heavy air pollution.

On the other hand during recession times people are less working which means more time for a good recreation.

"There is more time to sleep, and because people have less money, they are less likely to spend as much on alcohol and tobacco," he said.