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Article: Income inequality and health: pathways and mechanisms.(A Memorial to Alice Hersh)
- Article from:
- Health Services Research
- Article date:
- April 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Health Research and Educational Trust. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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BACKGROUND
Despite being the richest nation in the world, and despite nearly a decade of sustained economic growth, the United States lags behind other developed countries on many health indicators. For instance, according to the 1996 United Nations Development Report, the United States was 20th in the world ranking of life expectancy, lagging behind poorer countries such as Costa Rica, Greece, and Spain (United Nations Development Program 1996). Although lack of access to universal health care undoubtedly contributes to the poor health achievement of this country, growing evidence suggests that broader economic forces may determine population patterns of health. ...