Description: Demographers have typically viewed mortality trends from historical and cross-national perspectives, looking at commonalities in the evolution of mortality. In general, with improving economic conditions mortality has tended to decline and life expectancies to rise. The epidemiological transition from a mortality pattern dominated by infectious diseases to one in which more endogenous causes of death predominate is a central theme.

Description: This paper examines the two main positions on human life expectancyone a more expansive view, and the other more conservative view. The paper then offers an intermediate position that accepts the principal argument of each side without fully embracing the conclusions of either. From 2005 Living to 100 an Beyond Monograph, M-LI05-1.