Despite widespread interest in differential mortality, little is known about how these differentials, for the nonretired population, have evolved in the last twenty years. This study aims to fill this gap by providing estimates of trends in differential mortality by measures of lifetime earnings in the 1983 to 2003 period. A unique data set constructed matching data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation to earnings, benefits, and mortality data from reliable administrative sources

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... is used. Results indicate a consistent increase in differential mortality by lifetime earnings for both men and women and across age groups. The author wishes to acknowledge comments and suggestions by