Non-Metro US Troops Have Higher Mortality in Iraq

Kathryn Curtis and Collin Payne have published a fascinating analysis of mortality among US troops in Iraq that shows that soldiers from non-metro areas in the US have higher death rates in Iraq than those from metro areas, even after controlling for other relevant factors. They are not able to say exactly why this difference exists, but the difference will almost certainly lead to follow-up research. Beyond its potential political importance, the paper offers excellent insights into using non-standard data to generate demographic knowledge.