SEX-DIFFERENCES IN MORTALITY AS A SOCIAL INDICATOR

Using a macro-sociological model, this paper argues that the status of women is an important determinant of sex mortality differences. This is done first by examining data from India which is known to have an e xcessively high level of female mortality. The examination is further extended by a pooled cross-section and time series analysis of the exc ess of female life expectancy over male life expectancy for 83 countri es.