Mullahy J, Sindelar J L
Trinity College, Hartford.
Milbank Q. 1994;72(2):359-75.
The potential pathways by which alcoholism might affect income are examined using data on males from the New Haven site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) data set to illustrate important indirect, and direct, effects of alcoholism on income. The detrimental indirect effects occur through reduction of educational attainment and increased probability of divorce. Because both educational attainment and marriage positively influence income, the adverse impact of alcoholism on both of these variables translates into lower income for alcoholics. The implications should lead researchers to distinguish more carefully between the direct and indirect costs of this condition. Policy analysts also should explore the financial impact of early onset when they look at overall costs. Because this has often been underestimated, fewer resources are devoted to prevention and treatment of alcoholism than a considered awareness of the problem would indicate is warranted.
利用流行病学集水区（ECA）数据集纽黑文站点的男性数据，研究了酗酒可能影响收入的潜在途径，以说明酗酒对收入的重要间接和直接影响。有害的间接影响通过降低教育程度和增加离婚概率而产生。由于教育程度和婚姻都对收入有积极影响，酗酒对这两个变量的不利影响转化为酗酒者的收入较低。这些影响应促使研究人员更仔细地区分这种情况的直接和间接成本。政策分析师在考虑总体成本时，也应探讨早期发病的财务影响。由于这一点常常被低估，用于酗酒预防和治疗的资源比考虑到对该问题的认识而认为有必要投入的资源要少。
