Get Is Income Inequality A Determinant Of Population Health? Part 1. A Systematic Review

Effects of income inequality, researchers have found, include higher rates of health and social problems, and lower rates of social goods, a lower population-wide satisfaction and happiness and even a lower level of economic growth when human capital is neglected for high-end consumption.

Overall, there seems to be little support for the idea that income inequality is a major, generalizable determinant of population health differences within or between rich countries. Income inequality may, however, directly influence some health outcomes, such as homicide in some contexts.

Poor health and poverty do go hand-in-hand. But high levels of inequality, the epidemiological research shows, negatively affect the health of even the affluent, mainly because, researchers contend, inequality reduces social cohesion, a dynamic that leads to more stress, fear, and insecurity for everyone.

This work finds that countries where income inequality is decreasing grow faster than those with rising inequality. ... The single biggest impact on growth is the widening gap between the lower middle class and poor households compared to the rest of society.

Stress associated with a lower income, especially during childhood, increases risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. People with higher incomes live in areas with healthier resources available, like good grocery stores, safe housing, opportunities to exercise, clean air, and better schools.

At a microeconomic level, inequality increases ill health and health spending and reduces the educational performance of the poor. These two factors lead to a reduction in the productive potential of the work force. At a macroeconomic level, inequality can be a brake on growth and can lead to instability.

How income affects health. We know that people with higher incomes are healthier. Various long term studies have established that this relationship is largely causal - higher income leads to better health. The level and distribution of income, and poverty, is a well known cause of health inequalities within populations ...

The most plausible explanation for income inequality's apparent effect on health and social problems is 'status anxiety'. This suggests that income inequality is harmful because it places people in a hierarchy that increases status competition and causes stress, which leads to poor health and other negative outcomes.