Define collinearity
A situation in which several predictive variables are highly correlated with one another, making it hard to determine the importance of each.
Define asymptotic
A curvilinear relationship in which as values get higher, the relationship between the variables approaches zero
Define social capital
Collective benefits arising from cooperative attitudes and practices, grounded in trust and reciprocity.
Define the materialist hypothesis
The contention that most differences in health between groups are due to differences in capabilities, opportunities and access to resources
Define wealth
Accumulated assets such as property, investments and savings
Define liberal regimes
Countries that place high emphasis on personal liberty and rights. Governments leave most social and economic activity to non-governmental organizations such as voluntary organizations and corporations and avoid, as much as possible the regulation of social and economic affairs.
Define social democratic regimes
Countries where solidarity forms a key value and hence governments pursue policies aimed at assisting all citizens to achieve as affluent and successful a life as possible.
What is the GINI coefficient?
A widely used measure of income inequality where 0 is assigned to a hypothetical population that shares everything and 1 is assigned to a hypothetical population where one individual has everything.
What is fuel insecurity?
The risk of avoidable health outcomes associated with exposure to cold and damp due to lack of money to pay for electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil required for domestic heating
What is food insecurity?
The risk of avoidable health problems associated with exposure to cold and damp due to lack of resources required to secure an adequate, nutritious supply of food on a regular, ongoing basis.
Define residualism
The policy belief that society is better off when only very limited public support is provided to individuals and everyone is expected to rely upon their own resources
Define neo-liberalism
An ideology that emerged in the 70s and 80s that believes the govt’s role is to minimize tax and regulatory burden on people, and should reduce public services in favour of for profit corporate services and promote economic growth
Define targeting
Aiming a policy, program or therapy at those deemed to be in greatest need or at highest risk of adverse outcomes
Why is income the most important determinant of health?
Because income connects us to resources
Describe the relationship between income and education
Income and education are covariates. Income increases with education.
Why is the relationship between health and income considered complex?
- Collinearity
What is an example of an income variable?
Income distribution - how equally income is distributed across individuals in a population
Describe Preston’s work
A country’s GDP correlates strongly with life expectancies in poor countries
GDP correlates weakly with life expectancies in rich countries.
Why is Preston’s curve important?
It shows a curvilinear relationship between income and life expectancy
Describe Rodgers’ work
Found a correlation between infant mortality rates and country level income inequality measures
Describe Kaplan’s work
Income share of the lower half of the distribution is strongly correlated with state level mortality rates
Why is Wilkinson’s synthesis important?
Because he was the first person to develop an integrated theory around the findings respecting income inequality and health
What 3 sources did Wilkinson use for his synthesis?
- Social capital theory
- Sociology and criminology
- Primatology
Describe social capital theory
Robert Putnam proposed it.
Norms of reciprocity and mutual trust are essential for stable and accountable governance.
Norms include seeking social and economic exchanges with others are generated through social transactions in family and community
