Crisis of capitalism: social welfare states or socialist states as the way forward?

The quality and equitable distribution of the resources necessary for health - the social determinants of health - are shaped by economic and political systems. These systems reflect the balance of power and influence of various societal sectors that, through the mediating mechanisms of public policy, create and distribute these resources. These social determinants of health include income and wealth, education, employment security and working conditions, food and housing, and health and social services. Analyses of these public policies frequently consider how differing forms of capitalist welfare states mediate the power relations that distribute the social determinants of health. More recently, the emergence of numerous crises - income, employment, housing, food, and environmental - has led to focus on the capitalist economic system itself as a threat to health. This chapter explores how the crisis of capitalism is encouraging attention towards alternative economic systems and how a post-capitalist socialist society may be necessary for maintaining the public’s health.