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The rich world has got used to health and longevity getting better, and death rates falling 鈥� for everyone. But over the past few years data has been accumulating which suggests that this trend has stopped for poorly educated, white Americans. And for one group in particular - middle-aged women 鈥� death rates are going up. It鈥檚 a shocking finding, meaning many will die at a younger age than their mothers. What鈥檚 happening? Certainly, life is tough for many low-income American families. 鈥淲hat the data look like,鈥� says the economist Paul Krugman, 鈥渋s a society gripped by despair, with a surge of unhealthy behaviours and an epidemic of drugs.鈥� Is he right? Are the conditions of working class life in America killing white women?

Presenter: James Fletcher

(Image: A cemetery in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Credit: Getty Images)