C. Bambra
Health inequalities and welfare state regimes: theoretical insights on a public health ‘puzzle’
Bambra, C.
Authors
Abstract
Welfare states are important determinants of health. Comparative social epidemiology has almost invariably concluded that population health is enhanced by the relatively generous and universal welfare provision of the Scandinavian countries. However, most international studies of socioeconomic inequalities in health have thrown up something of a public health ‘puzzle’ as the Scandinavian welfare states do not, as would generally be expected, have the smallest health inequalities. This essay outlines and interrogates this puzzle by drawing upon existing theories of health inequalities—artefact, selection, cultural–behavioural, materialist, psychosocial and life course—to generate some theoretical insights. It discusses the limits of these theories in respect to cross-national research; it questions the focus and normative paradigm underpinning contemporary comparative health inequalities research; and it considers the future of comparative social epidemiology.
Citation
Bambra, C. (2011). Health inequalities and welfare state regimes: theoretical insights on a public health ‘puzzle’. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 65(9), 740-745. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2011.136333
| Journal Article Type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | Sep 1, 2011 |
| Deposit Date | Jan 27, 2012 |
| Publicly Available Date | Mar 7, 2012 |
| Journal | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health |
| Print ISSN | 0143-005X |
| Electronic ISSN | 1470-2738 |
| Publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 740-745 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2011.136333 |
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Copyright Statement
This article has been accepted for publication in Bambra, C., Journal of epidemiology and community. The definitive copyedited, typeset version Bambra, C. (2011) 'Health inequalities and welfare state regimes : theoretical insights on a public health 'puzzle'.', Journal of epidemiology and community health., 65 (9). pp. 740-745 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2011.136333
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