Model mortality patterns: a parametric evaluation

A parsimonious description is sought of the differences between life tables belonging to different model families, and the relationship between them. By using a broad range of empirical tables it is shown that only two, orthogonal, pieces of information, level and shape, are required to differentiate between them, and that most recognized model families form statistically distinguished clusters along the shape dimension. Men's and women's patterns lie in the same order of shape, but models for women are consistently more rectangular than their counterparts for men. Possible reasons are suggested, as well as lines for further inquiry. -Author