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This seems, at present, like a different sort of recession. I don't remember large reductions in the value of assets last time - it was mostly jobs. But I think this is a key test for theories of inequality: do they have predictive power? And do the postulated benefits of reducing inequality outweigh the consequences of increased unemployment etc? Clearly real economic collapse as in the Soviet Union doesn't produce any detectable health gain. But as far as I could see it was associated with greatly increased inequality, not with big losses among the rich. Time seems likely to be key. How long do Adam and I need to be relatively poorer before health effects show up among our neighbours? Martin Rathfelder Director Socialist Health Association 22 Blair Road Manchester M16 8NS 0870 013 0065 www.sochealth.co.uk If you do not wish to be on our mailing list please let us know and we will remove you. Adam Oliver wrote: > I don't really remember the early 1980s recession as being a particularly great time for narrowing income inequalities, directly causing improvements in health for the poor, or directly causing improvements in health generally. I have to confess that I'm sort of pleased that the housing market bubble has burst (and I'm one of the 'losers' from that), and that the ridiculous and irresponsible policy of credit extension has finally been exposed, but some of the members of the list seem to be suggesting that economic recession may be a good thing. It's a devastating thing for someone when they lose their job and can't find another one. I've seen it, and it may be wise not to lose sight of that. > > ________________________________ > > From: The Health Equity Network (HEN) on behalf of Stephen Bezruchka > Sent: Fri 09/01/2009 3:58 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: recession and health > > > > Larry Adelman's question and others' about health consequences brings > up important basic ideas about the production of health in populations. > > One analysis suggests economic growth has been bad for health in the US. > > Granados, J. A. T. (2005). "Increasing mortality during the expansions > of the US economy, 1900-1996." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1194-1202. > > That article was followed by many commentaries as the concept is > pretty controversial. > > -Brenner, M. H. (2005). "Commentary: Economic growth is the basis of > mortality rate decline in the 20th century--experience of the United > States 1901-2000." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1214-1221. > -Catalano, R. and B. Bellows (2005). "Commentary: If economic > expansion threatens public health, should epidemiologists recommend > recession?" Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1212-1213. > -Edwards, R. D. (2005). "Commentary: Work, well-being, and a new > calling for countercyclical policy." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): > 1222-1225. > -Granados, J. A. T. (2005). "Response: On economic growth, business > fluctuations, and health progress." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1226-1233. > -Neumayer, E. (2005). "Commentary: The economic business cycle and > mortality." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1221-1222. > -Ruhm, C. J. (2005). "Commentary: Mortality increases during economic > upturns." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1206-1211. > > The background noise, so-to-speak, is that health keeps on improving > over time unless you screw up big. (viz the Former Soviet Union after > 1991, or sub-Saharan Africa in the last few decades). Reasons are > many and likely country specific, but have more to do with improving > the social environment than other more commonly considered factors. > > So it likely depends on how the script is written and played out. > > If relative disparity declines in a recession, which is likely, then > health may improve quicker. > Eibner, C. and W. N. Evans (2005). "Relative Deprivation, Poor Health > Habits, and Mortality." J. Human Resources XL(3): 591-620. > and > Eibner, C. and W. N. Evans (2004). The income-health relationship and > the role of relative deprivation. Social inequality. K. M. Neckerman. > New York, Russell Sage Foundation: 545-568. > > > Stephen > > Stephen Bezruchka MD, MPH > Departments of Health Services & Global Health > School of Public Health and Community Medicine > Box 357660 > University of Washington > Seattle, Washington 98195-7660 > USA > (206)932-4928 > http://depts.washington.edu/hserv/faculty/?Bezruchka_Stephen > http://depts.washington.edu/eqhlth/ > > > > Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/secretariat/legal/disclaimer.htm > > > >