Mortality and fluctuations in macroeconomic activity in New Zealand Open Access PDF Download A substantial amount of international research has documented a statistical relationship between mortality and economic activity at the aggregate level. In many countries, mortality appears to be procyclical, meaning that it tends to increase (relative to long-run trends) during economic expansions.1–8 Procyclical mortality appears concentrated among the elderly and in urban areas.2,3 However, not all causes of mortality are procyclical. Suicides, homicides and purposeful injuries are frequently found to be countercyclical.5,9,10 Morbidities from ischaemic heart disease (including myocardial infarcts in the working aged) and malignant neoplasm (including lung and prostate cancer) are also frequently found to be countercyclical.9,11,12