PHA-Exch> Income redistribution is not enough: income inequality, social welfare programs, and achieving equity in health

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


  *Income redistribution is not enough:
income inequality, social welfare programs, and achieving equity in health*

*Barbara Starfield, * Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
*Anne-Emanuelle Birn, * Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

*Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health** - December
2007;61:1038-1041; doi:10.1136/jech.2006.054627*



Abstract: http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/61/12/1038

Income inequality is widely assumed to be a major contributor to poorer
health at national and subnational levels. According to this assumption, the
most appropriate policy strategy to improve equity in health is income
redistribution.

This paper considers reasons why tackling income inequality alone could be
an inadequate approach to reducing differences in health across social
classes and other population subgroups, and makes the case that universal
social programs are critical to reducing inequities in health. A health
system oriented around a strong primary care base is an example of such a
strategy.

Correspondence to:
Barbara Starfield, Johns Hopkins University, 624 North Broadway, Room 452,
Baltimore, Maryland, USA; bstarfie at jhsph.edu
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