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Income inequality and population health

Judge, Ken F., Mulligan, Jo-Ann, Benzeval, Michaela (1998) Income inequality and population health. Social Science and Medicine, 46 (4-5). pp. 567-579. ISSN 0277-9536. (doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00204-9) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:17390)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00204-9

Abstract

A number of studies have suggested that inequalities in the distribution of income may be an important cause of variations in the average level of population health among rich industrial nations. However, what is missing from the debate so far is any systematic review of evidence about the relationship between different measures of income distribution and indicators of population health. This paper aims to bridge that gap. First, it summarizes the recent English language literature on this topic and illustrates the methodological problems that weaken the inferences that can be derived from it. Secondly, it presents new empirical estimates of the relationship between different measures of income distribution, infant mortality and life expectancy based on the most authoritative data published to date. In contrast to most earlier studies, we find very little support for the view that income inequality is associated with variations in average levels of national health in rich industrial countries. Some possible explanations for these differences are outlined.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00204-9
Uncontrolled keywords: inequality; income distribution; life expectancy; infant mortality; OECD countries
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: M.A. Ziai
Date Deposited: 04 Apr 2009 23:24 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:55 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/17390 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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