ECIN Replication Package for "Financial Suicide: Debt and Death across US Counties during the Great Recession"

<div>Exploiting variation in debt-to-income ratios across US counties at the onset of the Great Recession, we investigate the impact of debt exposure on suicide. We find that more indebted counties saw a significant rise in suicide rates, with effects double for men and triple among adults ages 40-64. These patterns align with financial responsibilities: men are primary borrowers on mortgages, and middle-aged adults hold the most secured debt. The impact of debt on suicide behavior, with annual costs of several billion dollars, underscores the welfare implications of inflexible household debt instruments.</div>