Is Inequality Bad For Our Health?In this election year, health care again proves to be one of our nation's most urgent issues. Daniels, Kennedy, and Kawachi shift the focus of the debate, forcing us to take a closer look at how our health is affected by social injustice and inequality. Arguing that it isn't enough to increase access to doctors, they call for improving social conditions-such as poverty, lack of education and affordable housing, and harmful work environments-that damage our health. By urging us to work toward equality of opportunity for all, the authors situate health care reform among the larger social problems we must face. The authors' argument for reform in early childhood development, nutrition, work environment, and distribution of income is certain to spark debate. The editor of The New England Journal of Medicine and World Health Organization officials respond. The New Democracy Forum is a series of short paperback originals exploring creative solutions to our most urgent national concerns. "A civic treasure. . . . A truly good idea, carried out with intelligence and panache." --Robert Pinsky |
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access to health AMARTYA SEN Americans argue argument benefit BRUCE KENNEDY Daniels and colleagues determinants of health differences in health disparities distribution of health distribution of income economic effects empirical equal opportunity equalities in health equality of opportunity example fair equality focus GDPpc groups health achievement health equity health expectancy health policy health status health system ICHIRO KAWACHI important improving health income inequality income redistribution individuals inequali inequalities in health issue John Rawls JULIO FRENK justice as fairness justice requires measures ment Michael Marmot nomic NORMAN DANIELS political participation poor population health primary principal authors principle problem programs public health Rawls Rawls's theory Rawlsian Rawlsian justice reducing health inequalities reduction of health reform relationship social determinants social inequalities social justice society socioeco socioeconomic inequality socioeconomic status studies suggest tension theory of justice tion unequal United universal health care upstream Whitehall study