How Does Income Inequality Affect Health?

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In addition, a large body of research suggests that health may also be affected by the distribution of economic resources within a society (e.g., Kawachi & Kennedy, 1999; Wilkinson, 2006; Wilkinson & Pickett, 2008). The average health of a population is likely to decline with higher inequality levels. In other words, health tends to be better in more egalitarian societies. There are a variety of mechanisms through which income inequality may affect health. In their comprehensive review of the studies on the link between income inequality and health, Kawachi & Kennedy (1999) outline three main pathways. First, countries with high inequality tend to have lower public social expenditure ratios, and consequently provide lower access to quality

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