Social Inequality and Solidarity in Times of COVID-19

F. Marijn Stok, Michèlle Bal, Mara A. Yerkes and John B. F. de Wit
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F. Marijn Stok: Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
Michèlle Bal: Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
Mara A. Yerkes: Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
John B. F. de Wit: Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: The enormous public health burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic are not distributed equally. Inequalities are noticeable along socio-economic and socio-cultural fault lines. These social determinants of health affect both the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 infections as well as the magnitude of negative impacts of the measures taken to slow the spread of the virus. This perspective paper summarizes key inequalities in who is affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and in who is affected by COVID-19 prevention measures, based on evidence presented in state-of-the-art literature, and discusses the scope of challenges that these inequalities pose to solidarity and social justice. Key challenges for solidarity are highlighted across three areas: challenges to intergenerational solidarity, to global solidarity, and to intergroup solidarity.

Keywords: COVID-19; social determinants of health; health inequalities; solidarity; social justice; intergenerational solidarity; global solidarity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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