Thursday, June 27, 2013
C0.17 (Oudemanhuispoort)
There is a significant body of research about the effects of economic recessions on the health of individuals, particularly those who
experience unemployment. However, the more general public health effects of recessions on the wider community, and the variation of such effects by local labour market context and country setting has received less attention. Research on the social determinants of health has not examined whether there are variations between individuals or between areas in the health effects of periods of sustained economic growth. This comparative international research project examines the individual and wider community health effects of periods of economic growth and economic recession in two contrasting developed countries (UK and Sweden) for the period of 1991 to 2005. Specifically it examines whether there are socio-economic and spatial inequalities in the health effects and whether such effects vary by country with differing national labour market regulatory and social policy frameworks. We compare health effects in different economic cycles to see whether relationships are consistent over time. The project highlights the potential role of area based interventions in closing the health gaps and will inform the formulation of macro level public health policies.
experience unemployment. However, the more general public health effects of recessions on the wider community, and the variation of such effects by local labour market context and country setting has received less attention. Research on the social determinants of health has not examined whether there are variations between individuals or between areas in the health effects of periods of sustained economic growth. This comparative international research project examines the individual and wider community health effects of periods of economic growth and economic recession in two contrasting developed countries (UK and Sweden) for the period of 1991 to 2005. Specifically it examines whether there are socio-economic and spatial inequalities in the health effects and whether such effects vary by country with differing national labour market regulatory and social policy frameworks. We compare health effects in different economic cycles to see whether relationships are consistent over time. The project highlights the potential role of area based interventions in closing the health gaps and will inform the formulation of macro level public health policies.
