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Income inequality and population health: an analysis of panel data for 21 developed countries, 1975–2006

Torre, Roberta and Myrskylä, Mikko (2014) Income inequality and population health: an analysis of panel data for 21 developed countries, 1975–2006. Population Studies, 68 (1). pp. 1-13. ISSN 0032-4728

Full text not available from this repository.
Identification Number: 10.1080/00324728.2013.856457

Abstract

The relative income–health hypothesis postulates that income distribution is an important determinant of population health, but the age and sex patterns of this association are not well known. We tested the relative income–health hypothesis using panel data collected for 21 developed countries over 30 years. Net of trends in gross domestic product per head and unobserved period and country factors, income inequality measured by the Gini index is positively associated with the mortality of males and females at ages 1–14 and 15–49, and with the mortality of females at ages 65–89 albeit less strongly than for the younger age groups. These findings suggest that policies to decrease income inequality may improve health, especially that of children and young-to-middle-aged men and women. The mechanisms behind the income inequality–mortality association remain unknown and should be the focus of future research.

Item Type: Article
Official URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rpst20/current
Additional Information: © 2014 Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Divisions: Lifecourse, Ageing & Population Health
Social Policy
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited: 21 Mar 2014 09:21
Last Modified: 25 Feb 2024 18:54
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/56196

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