Austerity, neoliberalism and population health

Gerry McCartney

Chapter 26 in Handbook on the Social Determinants of Health, 2025, pp 357-370 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Neoliberalism is an economic policy approach where market forces are introduced across economies and the state is put in service of the market. Austerity policies aim to reduce government fiscal deficits (or increase the surplus) through decreased government spending or increased taxes, with the intention of increasing economic growth by enhancing private sector investment. Austerity is often implemented as part of a broad neoliberal policy agenda, although it can take alternative forms if it involves higher taxes on the rich or reducing government debt at times of rapid economic growth. Neoliberal economic policies introduced since the 1980s have widely led to population health harms, including increased health inequalities. Austerity measures are also now clearly evidenced to damage mortality trends, particularly when introduced during economic downturns. Austerity introduced after 2010 is the key cause of stalled mortality trends in the UK and Europe, and may be implicated more widely.

Keywords: Economics and Finance; Sociology and Social Policy; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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