Written by acknowledged experts in each field, it provides accessible summaries of the scientific justification for isolating aspects of social and economic life as the primary determinants of a population's health. The new edition takes account of the most recent research and also includes additional chapters on ethnicity and health, sexual behaviors, the elderly, housing and neighborhoods. Recognition of the power of socioeconomic factors as determinants of health came initially from research on health inequalities. This has led to a view of health as not simply about individual behavior or...

Among the developed countries it is not the richest societies which have the best health, but those which have the smallest income differences between rich and poor. Inequality and relative poverty have absolute effects: they increase death rates. But why? How can smaller income differences raise average life expectancy?
Using examples from the USA, Britain, Japan and Eastern Europe, and bringing together evidence from the social and medical sciences, Unhealthy Socities provides the explanation. Healthy, egalitarian societies are more socially cohesive. They have a stronger...

Among the developed countries it is not the richest societies which have the best health, but those which have the smallest income differences between rich and poor. Inequality and relative poverty have absolute effects: they increase death rates. But why? How can smaller income differences raise average life expectancy? Using examples from the USA, Britain, Japan and Eastern Europe, and bringing together evidence from the social and medical sciences, this text offers an explanation. Healthy, egalitarian societies are more socially cohesive. They have a stronger community life and suffer...

Explores the effects that social and economic differences have on our health as individuals and as whole societies. The author argues that this takes us to the roots of social malaise and also makes suggestions about the changes required to increase life expectancy and the quality of life for us all.

Eswar ein besonderes Privileg fur mieh, in denvergangenen zwanzig ahren tiber die bestimmenden sozialen und wirtsehaftliehen Fakto ren im Gesundheitswesen arbeiten zu durfen, Angefangen hat alles mit einem Zeitungsartikel, den ieh 1976 naeh Beendigung meiner Magisterarbeit in Form eines offenen Briefes an den damaligen Mi nister fur Gesundheit und Soziales David Ennals in der Labour-Re gierungvon Callaghanrichtete. ' Mitdem Hinweis, dass er alsLabour Minister die damalsbekannten groBten sozialen Klassenuntersehiede in Bezugaufdie Sterbliehkeitverwalte, forderte ieh ihn auf, eine"dring liehe...