Income Inequality and Socioeconomic Gradients in Mortality

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2007.109637
• Publication Date: 2007-09-28T01:12:17Z
• Authors: Richard G. Wilkinson; Kate E. Pickett
• Keywords: Population Health

We investigated whether the processes underlying association between income inequality and population health are related to those responsible for socioeconomic gradient in disparities smaller when differences narrower.We used multilevel models a regression analysis of 10 age- cause-specific US county mortality rates on median household incomes state inequality. assessed more closely were also compared gradients more- less-equal states.Mortality strongly associated with inequality: across all rates, r= -0.81; P=.004. The effect varied by cause death, but greater equality usually benefited both wealthier poorer counties.Although steep sensitive distribution than flatter gradients, narrower benefit people wealthy poor areas may, paradoxically, do little reduce disparities.