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Economic Inequality and Health: Looking Beyond Aggregate Indicators

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  • Böckerman, Petri
  • Johansson, Edvard
  • Helakorpi, Satu
  • Uutela, Antti

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between relative income inequality and health in Finland, using individual microdata over the period 1993-2005. Our data allows us to analyse a large spectrum of health indicators. Overall, our results suggest that income inequality is not associated with increased morbidity in the population. The results for women differ to quite a large extent from those of men and the pooled sample. There is evidence that an increase in the Gini coefficient is negatively related to the probability of good physical health and no disability retirement. For men, relative income inequality is clearly not important for health.

Suggested Citation

  • Böckerman, Petri & Johansson, Edvard & Helakorpi, Satu & Uutela, Antti, 2007. "Economic Inequality and Health: Looking Beyond Aggregate Indicators," Discussion Papers 1104, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    • Handle: RePEc:rif:dpaper:1104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Petri Böckerman, 2013. "Top Income Shares and Mortality: Evidence from Advanced Countries," Journal of Income Distribution, Ad libros publications inc., vol. 22(1), pages 57-69, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    health; health behaviour; economic inequality; relative income inequality; relative deprivation; Gini coefficient;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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